Brickwork students at Derby College Group (DCG) are sharpening their skills with real industry materials, thanks to a generous donation of bricks from Persimmon Homes North Midlands.
The almost 9000 bricks, made at Persimmon’s own brickworks in South Yorkshire, are being used by students in the brickwork department at Derby College’s Hudson Building. They let students practise with the same materials they will use on site when they begin their careers.
The Persimmon Homes team visited the Hudson Building to see how the donation is being put to use and to view the impressive work the students have already produced.
Practical experience with real bricks is a vital part of learning the trade. While classroom theory teaches the principles, it is only by laying bricks by hand that students develop the accuracy, speed and attention to detail that employers look for. Working with the same materials used on live building sites helps them understand how bricks behave, how to handle and cut them properly, and how to achieve a neat, strong finish that meets industry standards. This experience builds both their skills and their confidence, so that when they step onto a site for the first time they are ready to contribute from day one.
Richard Flamson, Construction Director for Persimmon Homes North Midlands, said: “We’re delighted to make this donation to Derby College Group, whose brickwork department do an invaluable job in giving young people the skills to thrive in construction. With our developments in nearby Burton and Shepshed, we appreciate the need to have great local constructors to deliver great local houses.
“At Persimmon, we’re dedicated to fostering future talent and equipping young people with the practical skills they need to enter the workforce. I hope these bricks can contribute to making the next generation of builders in Derbyshire.”
Carol Dixon, Director of Employer Partnerships at Derby College Group, said: “We are hugely grateful to Persimmon Homes for this generous donation. Working with real industry materials gives our students the chance to build their skills in exactly the way they will on site, and that makes a real difference to their confidence and readiness for work.
“It’s a brilliant example of how strong partnerships with employers help us develop the skilled workforce the construction industry needs, and we look forward to welcoming the Persimmon team to see the bricks in action.”