Apprentices receive early Christmas present from Persimmon
19 December 2022
Two colleges in the North East have received a sack full of bricks from Persimmon Homes.
Northumberland College and Derwentside College in County Durham recently welcomed the donation of 10,000 bricks apiece to be used by construction apprentices learning their craft at the colleges.
The special delivery was welcomed by the respective College Principals in the company of local authority Cabinet members and some of those local young people aspiring to embark upon a career in construction.
Derwentside College Principal Chris Todd said: “We were delighted to welcome Persimmon to showcase our recent investment in our construction facilities. As one of the most successful housebuilders, Persimmon is bringing exciting opportunities to the region and our students were thrilled to hear about the range of apprenticeships available to them.”
Gary Potts, Principal of Northumberland College meanwhile said: “It is more important than ever that we engage with our employer partners, ensuring that we work together collaboratively to develop local talent in order to bridge current and future skills gaps.
Councillor Elizabeth Scott, Cabinet Member for the Economy, Durham County Council said: “I am delighted to see local employers and colleges working together in order to provide students with opportunities to develop their skills and give people the best chance at securing an exciting and rewarding job in construction. ”
Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj, Executive Member for Business at Northumberland County Council “The council is doing everything possible to tackle the skills gap in all industries, including the construction sector. We are extremely proud of our partnership with the college. We also look forward to positively with the College, Persimmon Homes and businesses moving forward.”
Chris Curry, Regional Managing Director for Persimmon Homes added: “We are pleased to be able to support the two colleges in this way and it was great to see our apprentices honing their skills.
“As a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer, we’re proud of the wide range of exciting opportunities we provide young people in the North East.
“Of course working closely with colleges like Derwentside and Northumberland is absolutely vital to this and we look forward to helping many more young people across the region develop the skills they need to embark upon one of the many fulfilling careers construction has to offer.”
