Cardiff and Vale College and Persimmon Homes have joined forces to set up a new scheme, called the Training Academy, to address skills shortages in the growing South Wales construction industry.

Working in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the College and Persimmon are launching the new Training Academy initiative. With the upcoming City Deal a further 40,000 new homes will be built in the Capital Region alone, and Persimmon wanted to pre-empt any skill shortages by making sure a workforce is already in place.

The Persimmon Homes PLC Training Academy will see the one of the largest housebuilders in the UK grow its own talent – recruiting for its apprenticeship programme and upskilling existing staff.

Adam James, Apprentice Master at Persimmon Homes, said:

“We’re proud to be drastically increasing our apprenticeship provision is 2018. We wanted to lead from the front as a major house builder and work with a flagship South Wales college, so CAVC was the obvious choice.

“Adopting a ‘train to maintain’ mentality, we chose to offer apprenticeships for job security, demonstrating Persimmon’s commitment to future trades men and women. And giving everyone a chance to develop a career in construction.”

Ian Cowell, Cardiff and Vale College’s Dean of Technology and Creative Industries, said:

“We are delighted to be working with Persimmon – a company that is embracing training as a positive force in business growth. The construction industry in South Wales is booming and housebuilders can struggle to fill the rising number of vacancies, so working in partnership with Persimmon and the CITB to address this issue fits perfectly with the College’s commitment to working with and for the communities and the economy of the region.”

Apprenticeships are funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Social Fund.