To kickstart National Apprenticeship Week, we’re celebrating the career journey of Eve Hughes. Eve’s progression from Apprentice to Head of Service over the past 10 years showcases the power of apprenticeships and our long-term commitment to developing talent from within.
Eve joined Livv in 2016 as a Project Management Apprentice, choosing an apprenticeship over university to gain qualifications while building real-world experience. Almost ten years on, she now leads our Facilities Management (FM) and Environmental Services function as ‘Head of’ service, with responsibility for delivering safe, compliant and high-quality facilities and environmental services across our buildings.
Starting out
Eve, from Halewood, joined us on her 19th birthday and spent her apprenticeship rotating across different teams including, Mechanical & Electrical, Empty Homes and Facilities Management. This broad exposure gave her a strong understanding of how the business operates and how projects are delivered, while helping her build her confidence and develop key professional skills including organisation and prioritisation, adaptability and effective communication.
“I learned how projects are planned, how teams collaborate and how important organisation and communication are in keeping things on track,” Eve said. “I’ve always been naturally organised and good at coordinating people, but it was through hands‑on experience that I realised how much I enjoyed planning, problem‑solving and seeing projects come together.”
Securing a permanent role
Following the successful completion of her one-year apprenticeship, Eve secured a permanent role as a Facilities Assistant. She began this role just days after the Grenfell Tower fire, entering the housing sector during a period of increased scrutiny, pressure and responsibility.
Eve said: “It was a challenging time – fast-paced and high stakes – but it gave me a real sense of purpose. I focused on the fire risk assessments actions, and the more actions we closed, the more I could see the impact of the work we were doing on creating safer high-rise blocks for our customers to live in. That feeling of contributing to something meaningful made me want to build my career at Livv.”
Career progression
Over the following years, Eve progressed through a series of roles including FM Coordinator (Compliance), FM Team Leader, FM Contract Manager and Assets Manager for Facilities, developing her technical expertise, leadership capability and strategic thinking. She was appointed Head of Facilities Management and Environmental Services in December 2025.
“Livv supported me at every stage of my career journey, offering learning and development opportunities, increased responsibility within my roles and leadership training,” Eve said. “I’ve had the privilege of working with some great colleagues and teams over the years who have helped me grow into the person and leader I am today. I was also put forward for the Women in Safety and Compliance Award at the ASCP Awards 2021 by my manager. Seeing how much people believed in me meant a lot, and I was so proud to have won.”
Women in FM
Working in a traditionally male-dominated field, Eve says her experience has been overwhelmingly positive:
“I’ve never felt disadvantaged or overlooked because I’m a woman. I’ve worked in supportive environments where people are judged on their capability, work ethic and leadership, not their gender. There’s still progress to be made across the industry, but when the culture is right, women can thrive in facilities management – and that’s a credit to what’s been built at Livv.”
Eve concluded: “My apprenticeship gave me the skills and hands-on experience to kickstart my career. At 19, I could never have imagined how far I would progress in the next ten years, and I’m extremely grateful to Livv for the continued support, opportunities and commitment to developing their people.”
Eve’s journey from apprentice to Head of Facilities Management and Environmental Services in just under 10 years is truly inspiring. She is a real shining example of how, with hard work, drive and the right support, our apprenticeship programmes can help not just build skills but future leaders. She’s a credit to herself and the business, and a real role model for our current apprentices and young people coming through the ranks.
“We’re committed to investing in young people in Knowsley and creating clear pathways into meaningful, long‑term careers. National Apprenticeship Week is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the success of apprenticeships and we’re incredibly proud of Eve and of the many colleagues who have progressed through our early careers’ programmes.
Livv Housing Group is one of the largest apprenticeship providers in the Knowsley borough. Over the past 15 years, we have welcomed more than 250 young people into the business, helping them develop skills for life while building sustainable careers. Our next apprenticeship vacancies are due to open in summer 2026.