Partner Article

Career success for former apprentice

A former apprentice has plenty to smile about after gaining her first foot on the career ladder with a leading housebuilder.

Nineteen-year-old Katie Heslop turned her back on two other professions before deciding that working for Permission Homes Teesside was the career for her.

Katie, who is born in Durham, originally started as an apprentice hairdresser after leaving St Leonard’s School aged 16 with five GCSEs.

She said: “I decided that social care wasn’t for me either and then I was offered an apprenticeship with Persimmon Homes. I was over the moon.”

Katie started as an apprentice sales administrator in September 2012 at Persimmon Homes’ head office in Bowburn and quickly impressed her colleagues.

She studied for a qualification in business administration at Bishop Auckland College and finished her apprenticeship last March.

She said: “I started as a trainee but I have more responsibility now and was offered a permanent job in the sales office. I really enjoy working with the team as they are great people, the work isn’t boring and there is always something different to do. I really enjoy it.”

Christine Cooper, sales and marketing director at Persimmon Homes Teesside, said: “Katie is doing brilliantly with us. She came to us as an apprentice and she really impressed everyone. We did not want to lose her so we promoted her and offered her a permanent job.

“We believe in investing in our workforce and hope that young people coming into the industry can really develop a career with us knowing that we will give them the time and training they need to succeed.”

For more information visit www.persimmonhomes.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lee Southen .