The homebuilder, which last year reached a record number of apprentices in Scotland, announced that a cohort has completed their training and will now begin the next chapter of their career with the firm.

The apprentices gained experience on sites across Scotland – from Ayrshire to Arbroath – and have now completed their bricklaying apprenticeship. Of the 11 apprentices, three were existing Persimmon employees who were given the opportunity to upskill and learn a trade.

Persimmon works closely with construction colleges across the country to spot top talent and support young people into the world of work. Despite the challenging economic environment, the homebuilder has doubled down on their apprenticeship programme, ensuring they are supporting the next generation of construction professionals across the country.

Earlier this year, Persimmon’s regional apprenticeship manager, William Smith, was named Apprentice Instructor of the Year at the annual Skills Development Scotland Apprenticeship Awards. During his time with the company, apprenticeship retention rate has reached a record high – with 97% of apprentices staying at the firm following completion of their training.

William Smith, Persimmon regional apprenticeship manager, said: “I’m delighted to see our latest cohort of apprentices complete their training and continue their careers in construction with Persimmon.

“We’re committed to supporting the next generation of construction professionals and we use feedback from our apprentices to help shape our training for new recruits to ensure we’re equipping them with the skills and experience they need to succeed.

“From reaching a record number of apprentices, to improving diversity and focussing on retention, our apprenticeship programme in Scotland has gone from strength to strength. We want to make sure our developments create exciting opportunities for local people in the communities we operate in.”