Brick donation supports apprentices at Essex colleges
10 February 2026
The Essex business has donated 10,000 bricks to two Essex colleges to mark National Apprenticeship Week.
We made the donation to Colchester Institute, with the bricks split between the brickwork training centres at the Colchester and Braintree Campuses, to ensure learners are able to use the highest-quality materials during their practical lessons.
Anthony Stone, Head of Construction for Persimmon Homes Essex, visited the Colchester campus to meet the apprentices and share his advice for those looking to work in the housebuilding industry.
He said: “Apprenticeships are a great option for those seeking a career in the industry, allowing aspiring construction workers to learn the skills they need through a combination of college-based learning and site experience. The apprentices here are already showing a great talent for bricklaying and we would be delighted to see some of them working on our developments in the future.”
Tristan Edwards, Apprenticeship Manager for Construction at Colchester Institute, said: “The new bricks will be used by apprentices during their final assessments because they give a much cleaner finish than the older bricks, and means they can produce structures they can be truly proud of.
“Thank you to Persimmon Homes for this donation, it will make a tangible difference to our apprentices here and in Braintree.”
Cllr David King, Leader of Colchester City Council, said: “We know there is a skills gap in the construction industry and it is great to see a local housebuilder supporting colleges as they train the next generation of bricklayers who will be helping us build the homes we so desperately need.”
National Apprenticeship Week runs through to Sunday 15th February and is a week-long celebration that brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.
