West Scotland region donates materials to Glasgow Kelvin College
08 June 2023
Our West Scotland region has donated over 9,000 bricks to Glasgow Kelvin College to support the next generation of construction workers.
The region made the donation to Glasgow Kelvin College on Tuesday 6th June at the college’s Springburn Campus. Persimmon’s Regional Apprentice Manager, Ian MacPherson, was joined by local councillor Thomas Rannachan when making the donation to staff and students at the college.
The donation of bricks will support construction students studying in Glasgow Kelvin College’s Haghill and Springburn campuses. The materials will support the college in allowing students more time on the tools whilst at college to complete skills tests and create models in the classroom.
Glasgow Kelvin College, which has over 1400 construction students across 110 courses attracts students across the central Scotland. Formed in 2013 through the merger of three of Glasgow's hardest working and best loved colleges – Stow College, North Glasgow College and John Wheatley College – Glasgow Kelvin College brings together the expertise, skills, creativity, ambition and genuine student-focussed support which was the hallmark of these three legacy organisations.
Glasgow Kelvin offers a high-quality learning experience which provides their students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to equip them to compete in today’s challenging jobs market, or to move on to further, more advanced learning.
The house builder, which creates more than 1,500 new energy efficient homes across Scotland each year, make their own bricks at their state of the art factory in Doncaster which can produce over 72 million bricks per year – enough to stretch from Clydebank to Canada and back again.
Ronnie Muir, Senior Curriculum Manager for the faculty of Engineering, Construction and Science at Glasgow Kelvin College, said:
“Persimmon’s donation of bricks has been very welcome at a time when material costs are so high. The donation allows us to provide the opportunity for learners to use new bricks of industry standard more frequently.
“Everyone in the Brickwork section from students to staff are extremely grateful to Persimmon for the significant improvement that the donation brings to the learning experience.”
Thomas Rannachan, Springburn and Robroyston Councillor, said:
“At a time when the cost of materials is spiralling out of control, this amazing donation of bricks by Persimmon to Kelvin College has never been more valued.
“It was great to witness the impact this has in terms of how it helps in the practical development of students and apprentices alike and I look forward to seeing these young men and women complement our workforce once fully qualified”.
Ian MacPherson, Persimmon’s Regional Apprentice Manager, said:
"Persimmon is committed to creating exciting opportunities in the areas in which we operate. I'm thrilled we were able to give these essential items and help Glasgow Kelvin College's great efforts to develop the next generation of leaders in the construction sector.
“We are proud to be one of Scotland's largest employers of apprentice bricklayers and partnerships with Glasgow Kelvin College ensure we develop the workforce further.”
