Persimmon Homes
Persimmon Homes is a leading housebuilder currently working on multiple sites across the county. The housebuilder’s mission is to provide quality homes for the people of Cornwall that are built by local people.
With research pointing towards an ageing workforce within both the county and the wider construction industry, Regional Apprenticeship Manager at Persimmon Homes, Andy Wallis said: “Apprentices are really important for any business but especially in construction.”
“The business need is to bring in young people but also people who are career changers through an apprenticeship to give them the skills, knowledge and behaviours to become the workforce of the future.” With new methods of construction, new technologies and sustainability challenges, having apprentices can bring in a fresh and energised approach to the industry which is important for Persimmon.
The organisation runs a broad range of apprenticeships from the typical construction courses such as bricklaying and carpentry through to property maintenance, site management and even architectural technicians. Persimmon wants to facilitate a variety of apprenticeships to both meet the future needs of the business but also to give people new progression opportunities into the next step of their education or career.
“I’ve worked with apprenticeships for a lot of years, and I’ve seen the benefits that they can bring to businesses of all sizes, all sectors and all areas,” said Andy.
“You have to have the commitment to them and there is a commitment there for us to do it. The commitment comes back tenfold at the end by the individuals that come out of their apprenticeships and how valuable they are to the business.”
Javier Hardwick is currently undertaking a Level 4 Site Management apprenticeship which involves checking welfare and regulations are being followed as well as making sure health and safety standards remain high. Javier was drawn to Persimmon because they are a large, well-established company with access to a number of resources. He felt confident in their ability to put him through skilled training and offer opportunities for progression.
Like other apprentices, Javier felt that University was not the best course for his career path: “Generally, with University courses, you come to a position where you qualify, and they ask for experience to alongside that qualification. I would recommend an apprenticeship to people as an apprenticeship has that happy medium between them both.”
Emily Baker, who is currently undertaking a Carpentry apprenticeship, also felt University wasn’t right for her: “Doing an apprenticeship, you’re not going to have that massive debt at the end of your learning.”
Emily has learnt not only the technical aspect to the building of a house through her apprenticeship but also how to practically problem solve on site: “It’s fun going into college, touching base with all of the other apprentices, and then going on site and learning through that.”
Tayode Adewole, a Customer Care apprentice at Persimmon, also enjoys the college aspect of his apprenticeship, saying: “It’s really good just learning all the way throughout the week and then going to college and catching up with all your classmates. You’re being paid to be there; you want to learn and you’re making the most of it.”
Persimmon Homes recognises the value in apprenticeships as a structured and well tested way of bringing new individuals into the industry and moulding their progression. Andy Wallis said: “I would say to any business looking to take on an apprentice, the benefits are absolutely massive.”
“You can bring people in; you can give them the skills and knowledge that they need to do the role throughout their apprenticeship but also you can instil your company’s culture and values and give them that side of the learning of your business. So, when they come out, they already know how you operate and that can only be a benefit to a business.”
See Persimmon Homes.
