Wisbech apprentice carpenter and joiner, 17, nominated for leading national competition

Ashton Quince, of Wisbech, is an apprentice with Persimmon Homes East Midlands, which builds homes across Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, parts of Norfolk and Rutland.

As part of his training, he attends Peterborough Regional College to study for an NVQ Level Two as part of his joinery course.

The college is so impressed by the teenager they have nominated him for the national SkillBuild competition, which is run by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

The former Neale-Wade Academy pupil, who started with Persimmon Homes East Midlands last September, will compete in a regional heat in Norwich on June 5.

He said: “I am very excited about the whole thing and am really looking forward to June. It is a real honour to be nominated and I feel that my college and Persimmon Homes have noticed me and what I am doing, which is a nice feeling.

“I studied construction at school and thought carpentry was the best part and I really enjoyed it. When I saw the apprenticeship at Persimmon Homes, I knew they were a big company and I knew they had a lot to offer, so I was delighted when I was given the role.”

Nikki Wasey, the Construction Industry Training Board’s apprenticeship officer at Peterborough Regional College, said: “He has done incredibly well to be nominated because he is only in his first year. He is an amazing apprentice and is really good at what he does.

“He is very dedicated and worked hard to get the apprenticeship he wanted. He has a nice attitude and the feedback we get from everyone about him is fantastic. He is a really lovely lad, so polite and a real teamplayer on site.”

Cheryl Bissett, sales and marketing director for Persimmon Homes East Midlands, said: “We already know that Ashton is a great apprentice and doing really well with us. It is fantastic to know that others think the same of him and we wish him the best of luck. He works very hard and deserves to do well.”