Member Article

Creative youngster wins dream home competition

When Ellen Thomas decided it was time to get on the property ladder little did she know that it would also spark off a new career.

After renting for over three years in Cardiff Bay, Ellen, 22, decided to move back to be near her family and fell in love with a house on a Persimmon Homes development in Pontypridd.

She was so impressed with the service she received from the housebuilder’s sales advisors that she quickly decided it was the career for her and applied to become one of their trainees.

Ellen and her boyfriend, Steve Debono, used the Government backed Help To Buy Wales scheme to purchase their first ever property.

Help To Buy was introduced to Wales in January to support home ownership, stimulate building activity and provide a welcome boost to the housing sector. It helps first time buyers and existing home owners purchase a new-build home with as little as a 5 per cent deposit.

After applying for the role of trainee sales advisor by going into the local sales office, Ellen was delighted when she got the job. She is currently training at different sites across South Wales as well as learning the ropes at the head office in Cardiff.

Ellen said: “Persimmon Homes East Wales has certainly swept me off my feet. My house is everything I had hoped it would be and more and now so is my career.”

“I really love my job, particularly selling, which is the most fun as I like meeting different people. I am training in customer care and have also met with solicitors, financial advisors, the site team and construction team to get an overview of the whole process.”

Ellen was born near Pontypridd, but moved to the centre of Cardiff three years ago where she worked as an audio typist. She decided she wanted to be closer to family and friends so was delighted when she found her dream three-bedroom home on the Milford Park development in Pontypridd.

Ellen said: “After three years of saving we are absolutely over the moon that we’ve finally purchased our first ever home. The new Help To Buy scheme has been such a help as it’s given us the extra boost to get on the housing ladder a lot sooner, and has enabled us to purchase a larger property than we had originally thought.”

Victoria Williams, head of sales for Persimmon Homes East Wales, said: “It is wonderful to find someone who not only fell in love with one of our homes, but with the company too and wants to make her career with us.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Adam Thompson .