How long have you been with us and what did you study at university?
I joined Persimmon three years ago having completed an undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts (History) at Royal Holloway, University of London.
What is your current role and what has your career journey been so far?
My first two years at Persimmon were spent as a Graduate Management Trainee on the Graduate Rotational Scheme. During this time, I undertook placements with every business function, as well as a secondment with The New Homes Quality Board.
The scheme allows you to try every function to see where you are best suited - for me it was with Commercial. Since completing the scheme in September 2024, I have been working as a Graduate Quantity Surveyor.
What do you enjoy about working at Persimmon?
I enjoy the fact that you get what you give. Persimmon recognises when people are actively involved and bettering themselves as well as the business. A lot of the directors have worked their way up, so there are plenty of opportunities to progress.
What might a typical week look like for someone in your role?
Most of my time is spent looking after one of the sites in my region. As the surveyor you are responsible for tendering the trades, setting the budget, agreeing any variations and ensuring the subcontractors get paid for the work they complete. The focus is to identify opportunities for cost saving and to minimise losses wherever possible. Every other month I complete a valuation for my site which I have to present to my Regional Chairman.
Although a large part of my role involves reports, spreadsheets and numbers, there is a people element to my role. It is critical to actively communicate and maintain positive relationships with the site team, subcontractors as well as other business functions to ensure that the site operates smoothly.
Most of my work is office based; however, I am regularly on site for meetings and to check on how the site is progressing.
How have you found the graduate scheme so far and the support you’ve received?
I thoroughly enjoyed the graduate scheme and believe that it has been massively beneficial to my career development. The rotational nature of the scheme means you spend a period of time in every department, where you pick up knowledge on all of the business functions as well as build relationships. This is something that may be harder to achieve if you enter a business and only experience one function.
Throughout my time on the scheme, I felt well supported with 1-1 monthly catch ups. These were great opportunities to signpost if something was not working out and to create an action plan. In addition, there were opportunities to receive further training and development. Some of my favourite times were catching up with the rest of my cohort while visiting various arms of the business.
Even after completing the scheme, you are not forgotten about! The team who run the scheme send emails signposting beneficial talks or training opportunities, as well as check in on your progress and development. I still feel that I could approach the team with a concern, and they would do their best to support me.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about applying?
It’s cliché but if you are thinking of applying, go for it! I believe the rotational scheme is fantastic for individuals who do not have a construction background like me but are interested in a career in housebuilding. You get to learn about every step of the process and truly understand the business.
I have been told numerous times by directors that they wish the Graduate Scheme existed when they started out their careers as it is a unique and invaluable experience to learn.
Anything else you think is helpful for future graduates to know?
When applying, do your research and think about how you can demonstrate curiosity and commercial awareness. You do not need to be an expert, but having a base understanding and opinions is beneficial. During your interviews ask questions as this fantastic opportunity to learn from the people with a wealth of experience and knowledge.