Two Ayrshire students have shattered the glass ceiling of the construction by becoming a housebuilder's first female apprentice bricklayers in Scotland.
Billie Murray, 22, and Chantelle Muir, 21, are set to receive the John Mather Award this week for their work.
Persimmon West Scotland, who work in partnership with Ayrshire College, first spotted Billie, from Cumnock, and Chantelle, from Ayr, through their work in the college and offered both their first taste of construction with an SVQ level 6 apprenticeship in bricklaying.
The duo became the first female apprentice bricklayers for the company in Scotland in September 2022, with both working on Ayrshire developments for the company.
Chantelle said: “I am delighted to be receiving the John Mather Award at Ayrshire College which will help with providing essential tools for my trade on site.
“My construction career started when Persimmon gave me the opportunity to work on their Mayfields development in North Ayrshire as a bricklaying apprentice. The guidance and support since starting have been phenomenal and I would like to thank the company for the opportunity.”
Chris Logan, Persimmon West Scotland managing director, added: “We are delighted that both Billie and Chantelle have been honoured with the John Mather Award from Ayrshire College. Their time with Persimmon has been extremely impressive and they continue to set very high standards.
“As Persimmon’s first female apprentices in Scotland, they are demonstrating that a career in construction is open to everyone. The award is a fitting recognition of their hard work and determination to succeed.”
Persimmon is one of Scotland’s largest employers of bricklaying apprentices and the home builder currently has thirty five apprentices on its developments, undertaking a mixture of bricklaying, joinery and roofing Modern Apprenticeship Frameworks.
In 2022, Persimmon announced its ambition to recruit 50 female apprentices or technical trainees into construction related roles across the UK.
Billie and Chantelle will now receive an award which is organised by the John Mather Trust to continue John Mather’s lifelong interests in arts and culture, entrepreneurialism and employability skills in the West of Scotland.
The award will include new tools to enable Ayrshire college students to make their way into the world of work without the fear of financial difficulties for essential equipment.
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