Hi, my name's George. I joined the Grad Scheme in 2022 after having taken a year to go traveling around Europe, before that I was a student at Swansea University having spent 4 years there studying mechanical engineering.
What is your role and how long have you been at Persimmon?
I am currently working in the land and planning department for the South West office based in Exeter, having been with the company for one year I have been able to select this department as my first that I will be completing a 6-month rotation with. In this department, my role is to identify suitable land for future development and assist in the promoting of land through the planning system.
What inspired you to apply for this role / Persimmon?
Beyond a personal interest in the construction industry, the persimmon grad scheme offered a wide range of opportunities, spending time with each department from the start to finish of the development process, excellent supportive training and guidance from industry professionals giving a solid foundation to find the department that I enjoy working for the most and feel I am best suited too.
What has been the single most important thing you learnt so far in your job?
In this role I’ve learnt to keep my mind open and take on opportunities that come my way. When I first joined Persimmon, I thought I had an idea of which departments would suit me and which may have not been so interested in but those opinions where change drastically over the course of my year with the company. I found myself enjoying aspects of every role I was in and taking on tasks I never new existed within the industry.
What would a ‘normal’ day look like for someone in your role?
One of the things I like most in the land department is the variety that the role provides, a normal day can vary massively from spending it creating statements and arguments to support a planning application to going out to potential sites to try and find future developable land.
What do you find most interesting with the sector you’re in?
I think it’s the variety that the sector provides, the range of challenges and tasks that can be taken on within the business is huge and the grad scheme provides a brilliant opportunity to experience the industry from numerous perspectives and really find the role that suits you best.
What is the culture like?
Everyone has been easy to talk to and learn from. My colleagues have always been happy to take time to show me the ropes or explain different aspects of there job roles to me.
Have you had the opportunity to get involved in any activities outside work?
I have had multiple opportunities to represent Persimmon at conferences around the country, these events were excellent to learn more about the industry as a whole and to network with people from a wide range of backgrounds and companies. I have also been invited to numerous networking and young professional events in my local area through Persimmon which has helped me develop connections with other professionals from a variety of industry roles.
How important is diversity to you and what is Persimmon doing in this space at the moment?
Being in an organisation that values diversity is highly important to me, Persimmon employs people based on merit and supports various programs such as Women Into Construction that is addressing the gender imbalance in the construction workforce where women are historically underrepresented.
How did you find the application process?
The application process was one of the best that I took part in while searching for jobs, I received my first response very soon after the application window closed and from there the process was very efficient. I received my invite to the online assessment centre with my first response and from there I received feedback within a week telling me I had been accepted to a final interview. I was offered the job only a couple of days after my final interview making the whole process very quick and smooth.
Finally, any tips for anyone who’d like to apply for a role at Persimmon?
I’d recommend taking a bit of time to learn a brief overview of the building process, and what role each department plays within a developer. Beyond that just ask yourself why you’re right for the role and be ready to demonstrate your skill set in the application process.