The housebuilder has welcomed 13 new apprentices from across Scotland, taking its total number of apprentices to an all-time high. The latest recruits have joined from Ayrshire to Aberdeenshire and are embarking on careers in the construction industry, combining hands-on experience on Persimmon developments with formal training at college.

Among the new intake taking the plunge into construction and carving out new careers in an industry facing a growing demand for skilled workers is Sydney Thomson, who is starting a new career as an apprentice joiner after previously completing a BA in Education.

Sydney said: “Having a degree in education and now starting an apprenticeship in joinery might seem like a big change, but I’ve always wanted to work in a practical career where I can see the results of what I’m doing.

“I’m excited to learn from experienced tradespeople, develop a completely new set of skills and build a career in an industry where there are so many opportunities.”

The intake is also helping to challenge the traditional image of the construction industry, with women accounting for 30% of Persimmon’s latest apprentices. That compares with around one per cent of the UK’s manual construction workforce being female, according to industry figures.

Persimmon has also taken steps to ensure cost is not a barrier to starting an apprenticeship, providing every new recruit with the tools and personal protective equipment they need to get started, free of charge.

William Smith, senior regional apprenticeship manager at Persimmon Homes, said: “Reaching 50 apprentices in Scotland is a fantastic milestone, but what really stands out is the variety of people choosing to start a career with us.

“Whether they are coming from teaching, hospitality, returning to work after raising a family or taking their first steps into employment, they all bring different experiences and skills to construction.

“We’re particularly proud that 30 per cent of this year’s intake are women. There is still a huge gap between the number of men and women working in construction, and we want to play our part in changing that.

“Scotland needs more skilled people to help deliver the homes it needs, and apprenticeships are vital to building that workforce for the future.”