Cementing the future of housebuilding

A national housebuilder has donated 2,500 bricks to Walsall College to provide students with hands-on experience as part of their training.

Persimmon Homes Central has made the donation as part of a wider commitment by the company to strengthen the industry’s future workforce, ensuring that young people have access to the materials and training necessary to build rewarding careers in construction.

With the UK facing a shortage of 25,000 bricklayers, according to recent figures from the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), it’s now more important than ever, that these skills are developed to address the current shortage and to develop future workforces.

Paul Coles, Operations Director at Persimmon Homes Central said: “We are proud to support the next generation of construction professionals through our partnerships with local colleges. By providing these essential materials, we hope to give students the resources they need to succeed in their training and future careers.”

The donation was marked by a visit from Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands who said: “Persimmon is a company that knows you have to invest now to secure the future of the industry. Brick by brick, they are giving learners the skills they need to build careers as well as homes.

“Only by working together can we grow our economy while giving people in our region access to good quality jobs. That’s why I am working with businesses across the region to deliver training, open up work placements and increase the number of apprenticeships available.

“When we provide opportunities for our residents to learn, we help the whole of the West Midlands to grow – now and in the future.”

Mark Pemberton, Faculty Director at Walsall College said: “Gaining industry exposure from the very start of their training is essential for our students, whether through working with different types of bricks or seeing real-world examples of innovative and sustainable building practices.

“This support from Persimmon provides meaningful opportunities for students to build confidence, develop a strong work ethic and expand their knowledge—all helping to pave the way for successful careers in construction.”