Welsh bricklayer wins national apprentice competition

A brickwork apprentice from South Wales region has been crowned the winner of the British championship in a ceremony in Birmingham.

Sam Veasey, a year-one apprentice at Bridgend College who works at Persimmon’s ‘The Parish’ site in north-west Cardiff, won the Junior National Final at the Guild of Bricklayers competition earlier this month.

The Parish site at Llanilltern near Creigiau is a multiphase development where hundreds of houses will provide one- to four-bed homes for those work in the capital and nearby towns.

Persimmon Homes East Wales recently donated £6,000 to Show Racism the Red card to deliver anti-racism workshops in Cardiff schools – the donation was presented at nearby Creigiau Primary School.

Commenting, Sam, who works alongside Bridgend Brickwork at ‘The Parish’, said:

“I’m really pleased to have won this UK-wide award as it shows that I put 100% into all my work and take great pride in doing my job to a high standard.

“That the judges noted how neat my work was and accurate I was in my measurements is obviously something that I really appreciate as a bricklayer.

“My favourite part of what I do is working with others to build something, seeing the finished product, and knowing I had a hand in creating it – so having the chance to do that with Persimmon is really fulfilling.”

Persimmon Homes Managing Director East Wales Lee Woodfine added:

“I’m delighted for Sam – his work really is outstanding, he fully deserves this award, and it is great to see that recognised with this impressive award.

“We are not just housebuilders, but job creators and awards like the one Sam has just won only goes to show the high standard of our work and workers. Well done, Sam.”