College students win work experience opportunity

A leading South-West housing developer has welcomed two college students for a week’s work experience to understand what it will be like to work in the construction industry.

Cornwall & West Devon hosted Malia Daykin and Gabriel Ridley at their office in Plymouth last week

Malia attends Ivybridge Community College and approached Persimmon at a careers fair. She spent her week with the Commercial Team. Malia is currently studying her A-Levels in Economics, Business, Biology and Core Maths.

Whilst Malia is keeping an open mind, she is most interested in Quantity Surveying or Project Management, and would eventually like to secure a degree apprenticeship in one of these fields.

Gabriel is studying at Newton Abbot College and is in Year 10 and wanted to see whether construction is a good fit for him and whether he will follow in his father’s footsteps, who works in architecture technical management.  

Cornwall & West Devon’s Managing Director Adam Church commented:

“We were very happy to welcome Malia and Gabriel to the company for the week as they get some real-world experience of the workplace, particularly for a firm that’s in the construction sector.

“Successful companies reflect the customers and communities they serve and embrace new ideas and ways of working. Our business is only as strong as our people, and Persimmon recognises the importance of securing the future pipeline of talent to ensure we have a sustainable business.

“For us at Persimmon, it is essential that young people get a chance to better understand what housebuilders like us do as our industry is one that needs to grow to meet housing demand, especially for those generations that are struggling to get on the housing ladder.

“Construction is a great enabler of the local economy, and such initiatives will only serve to strengthen the business and industry in the years to come.”

Malia added:

“I have very much enjoyed my week of experience at Persimmon Homes. It has definitely given me an insight into a possible career path that I would like to pursue in Quantity Surveying.

“I have always been interested in the works behind the construction industry and am very keen to learn more about it, which is why I am very grateful for this experience as it has allowed me to discover my possible future more in depth”.

Gabriel said:

“I’ve really enjoyed my work experience with Persimmon Homes because you get to see how real world processes work and what a professional work environment is like.”