Cabinet Secretary praises Persimmon training programme

Persimmon were delighted to welcome Wales’ Cabinet Secretary for Housing to its Construction Academy in Llanilid this week.

Jayne Bryant MS was given a tour of the facility and the nearby Morgans Walk site by Persimmon’s chairman in Wales, Stephen Cleveley, and the managing directors of the West Wales and East Wales businesses, Stuart Phillips and Lee Hawker.

During the visit, the Cabinet Secretary also met with apprentices who will go on to make up the future workforce of Wales’ construction sector before taking on some bricklaying herself.

The Academy, run in partnership with Bridgend College and with the support of Welsh Government apprenticeship funding, has created more than 150 job opportunities for people in Wales over the last five years.

Students enter the college on a foundation course and 12 months later progress into employment with Persimmon on a three-year apprenticeship. The Academy also trains junior apprentices aged 14-16.

The Academy is situated next to Persimmon’s live construction site at Llanilid, Rhondda Cynon Taf, giving apprentices hands-on learning experience with modern methods of construction, developing the next generation of construction workers and site staff.

The site will deliver more than 1,700 homes to the area, opening up the dream of homeownership to hundreds of local families. Sales data shows the overwhelming majority of customers are from the local area.

Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Jayne Bryant MS, said:

“It was inspiring to meet with some of our future housebuilders and see first-hand the training and support they’re receiving at the Academy.

“Delivering more homes now and into the future is a priority for the Welsh Government. That’s why I’m pleased to see investment in construction apprenticeships to help maximise the opportunities available to young people within the construction sector.

“We will continue working with our partners to ensure we have the skills we need to deliver more homes across Wales.”

Stephen Cleveley, Chair of Persimmon in Wales, said:

"We were delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to our Llanilid development and showcase both our housebuilding and apprenticeship initiatives.

“The housing sector in Wales brings significant benefits – not only in providing much-needed homes but also in creating local jobs, supporting economic growth, and enhancing communities.

"With the help of key government initiatives like Help to Buy – Wales, we are committed to making homeownership more accessible for local families while ensuring our developments leave a positive and lasting legacy for future generations.

"Our partnership with Bridgend College is a great example – helping to train the next generation of skilled tradespeople and directly supporting the Welsh Government’s wider housing and skills agenda.”