New apprentice intake welcomed by leading housebuilder and Bridgend College 

A new 30-strong intake of apprentices has been welcomed at the ‘Persimmon Academy’ in Pontyclun.

In partnership with Bridgend College, Persimmon Homes has established a ground-breaking education and training academy, which is producing the next generation of construction workers and site staff in South Wales.

The ‘Persimmon Academy’ sees apprentices develop their skills at a bespoke construction and learning facility at the housebuilder’s Training Academy at their development in Llanilid, Ponytclun.

The new apprentices in carpentry and bricklaying were welcomed to the site and each received £300 worth of hands tools to get them started in their chosen trade, while also undertaking a health and safety induction.

The intake will work towards a Higher National Certificate qualification that includes the innovative ‘Persimmon Way’, which delivers an holistic approach to construction quality including enhanced technical standards.

This year, Persimmon Homes and the College has also designed a ‘management apprenticeship’ course that is bespoke to Persimmon, and will train future staff for the company’s Welsh developments with qualifications in construction and site management.

The initiative builds on a successful relationship that has developed over the past five years, and has created over 150 new job opportunities in construction across South Wales.

Welcoming the new intake, Persimmon’s regional quality director, Carl Davey said:

“We are delighted to have welcomed such a strong intake of apprentices for the forthcoming year.

“The Persimmon Academy goes from strength to strength, and allows us to recruit and retain the best talent in the area, and deliver a sustainable business model.

“Construction is the great enabler of the Welsh economy, and our apprenticeship programme has already created over 150 job opportunities for workers on our sites across Wales, with more to come.

“Our partnership with Bridgend College is vital for the future of our business, and we are delighted to see such a passionate group of new apprentices take their first steps on site in Pontyclun.

“We look forward to developing our Academy and delivering a first-class learning environment for the next generation of construction workers in South Wales.”

Earlier this week, Persimmon Homes was shortlisted in the Welsh Government’s prestigious Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, which rewards individuals, learning providers, and employers who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Government’s Employability and Apprenticeship Programmes across Wales.

Commenting on the latest recruits, a spokesperson for Bridgend College said:

“Our strong partnership with Persimmon Homes will give our new apprentices the opportunity to gain the skills and qualifications that are needed for future employment within the building and construction sector.

“The Persimmon Construction Academy is a fantastic bespoke construction and learning facility and we’re pleased to welcome a new group of apprentices for this year.”