An apprentice joiner with the country’s top housebuilder became a radio star to help promote the company’s innovative recruitment drive – and even got to talk to his chief executive into the bargain.
Persimmon Homes is looking for 225 young people to join the business as apprentices and trainees to follow in chief executive Jeff Fairburn’s footsteps.
Jeff began his career in construction at the age of 17 on a Youth Training Scheme before going on to run Persimmon, the country’s biggest builder of new homes.
Jamie Galloway, 19, from Falkirk, was featured on local radio station Central FM talking about his own start in the industry with Persimmon.
He chatted to Jeff both on and off the air as part of the feature and explained how he had turned a fondness for woodwork into a career.
Jamie said: “It is incredible to think that the company’s chief executive started his working life in the same way that I have, and shows just what is possible if you put your mind to it.
“I really enjoyed talking on the radio and speaking personally to Jeff. His own career is an inspiration and it is fantastic that the company is now giving so many other young people the sort of chance that Jeff had.
“I left school at 16 unsure what I wanted to do but loved woodwork. I spotted that Persimmon Homes East Scotland was looking for an apprentice joiner and was really lucky to get the job.
“I have learned an awful lot in the two years I have been here both about my trade and the construction industry in general. “
Jeff said he was delighted to have had the opportunity to chat to Jamie and a number of other apprentices from across the company’s 24 regions as part of a series of radio interviews to highlight the recruitment drive.
“Jamie is exactly the sort of person we are looking for at Persimmon. He has made a terrific start to his working career and it was a pleasure to spend a little time getting to know him.
“I know from my own life how starting work at 17 can be a really positive experience which is why I am so keen to give as many as possible a chance to join our thriving business.
“We work hard on our training programmes and enjoy sharing our knowledge with young people and progressing them through the business. You never know, one of these young people may be our future chief executive in years to come.”
The new jobs will be spread across Persimmon’s regional businesses in England, Wales and Scotland.
Roles include 125 brick-laying and joinery apprentices, 50 trainee sales advisors and 50 graduate/trainee technical staff.
For more information about how to apply for jobs at Persimmon Homes click here.