Two young Monklands men are laying the foundations for careers in construction after joining Persimmon Homes West Scotland as apprentice bricklayers.
Nathan Smyth, 25, from Airdrie, and Jordan Atkinson, 20, of Coatbridge, have been recruited as part of the housebuilder’s latest intake of apprentices. They will combine on-the-job experience with their studies at Glasgow Kelvin College’s Springburn campus.
College and Site Experience
Nathan joins the programme after spending the last four years committed to developing his skills, enrolling in bricklaying courses at New College Lanarkshire to pursue his ambition of working in the trade. Jordan, meanwhile, brings experience from working on construction sites and is now taking the next step in his career by formalising his skills through an apprenticeship in bricklaying.
Both apprentices will work on Persimmon developments across central Scotland, including sites in North Lanarkshire where the company is currently building new homes at Royale Meadows in Muirhead and Castle Hill in Wishaw.
Support and Tools
To help kickstart their careers, Persimmon has equipped both apprentices with the essential tools and kit needed for the role, removing financial barriers and ensuring they can hit the ground running.
William Smith, regional apprenticeship manager at Persimmon, said: "Nathan and Jordan have both shown a strong commitment to building careers in construction, and we’re pleased to support them as they take this important step. Apprenticeships are key to developing the skilled workforce needed to deliver new homes, and it’s encouraging to see local people taking up these opportunities while contributing to projects in their own communities."
Nathan, an apprentice bricklayer, added: "I’ve spent a number of years working towards this through college, so it’s great to now be doing the job on-site and putting those skills into practice. Being able to learn from experienced tradespeople while working towards a qualification is exactly the opportunity I was looking for, and I’m excited to develop my career further with Persimmon."
