A Coatbridge graduate is celebrating completing her town planning degree after being supported by Persimmon Homes to combine her studies with developing a career in the housebuilding industry.
Emily Bond graduated from the University of the West of Scotland with a BSc (Hons) in town planning. She joined Persimmon Homes East Scotland in October 2024 as a graduate land assistant and now works across the region, covering developments from the Forth Valley through to the Lothians.
Career path from environmental geography
Emily had previously graduated from the University of Stirling with a BSc (Hons) in environmental geography and was keen to find a career where she could build on her interest in the environment and how communities are planned and developed. After spotting an opportunity for a graduate land assistant with Persimmon, she decided to pursue a career in the housebuilding industry.
As part of her development, Persimmon supported Emily through her town planning degree, giving her the flexibility to balance her studies with hands-on experience in her role. The combination of academic study and practical experience has helped Emily develop her understanding of land and planning, while gaining an insight into the work involved in bringing new developments forward.
Praise from colleagues
Emily said: “I’m really proud to have completed my degree and grateful to Persimmon for giving me the opportunity to study while gaining valuable experience in the industry.
“Balancing university with work was challenging at times, but having the support of my colleagues and the time to focus on my studies made a huge difference.
“My first degree in environmental geography gave me a real interest in how places are developed and how communities can be planned for the future, so working in land and planning with Persimmon has been a great way to turn that interest into a career.
“I’ve gained so much experience since joining Persimmon and I’m looking forward to continuing to develop my career with the company.”
Mark Sinclair, Persimmon Homes East Scotland land director, added: “We’re delighted to see Emily complete her degree and it’s fantastic to see the progress she has made since joining our land team.
“Providing people with the opportunity to gain qualifications while developing practical experience is an important part of how we build our future talent.
“Emily has shown real commitment in balancing her studies with her role, and we look forward to seeing her continue to develop her career with Persimmon.”
