Teesside University partners with Persimmon and Bellway to develop new talent pipeline for housebuilding sector

Teesside University is breaking new ground in support of the house building sector as it works with industry on a new programme for upskilling future Quantity Surveyors with sector specific skills.

Through its successful delivery of a wide a range of construction courses, the University’s Professional Apprenticeships department has identified a need in the sector for a Quantity Surveying provision that focusses on housebuilding.

The team is now working with two of the UK’s largest housing developers Persimmon Homes and Bellway Homes to develop a groundbreaking housebuilding-specific degree apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying.

The innovative Level 6 apprenticeship is specifically aimed at supporting industry and upskilling its workforce to meet Government’s ambitious target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029; a plan seen as being crucial to solving the housing crisis and boosting economic growth in the UK.

Joanna Burgess, Director of Professional Apprenticeships at Teesside University said: 'This is a fantastic example of how Teesside University is responding to not only the needs of our industry partners, but the needs of the Government’s strategic priorities around housebuilding.

'We are taking a leading approach in our support of the housing sector, listening to their requirements and working collaboratively to develop a solution. Through this engagement with industry we will deliver work force skills contextualised to the specific needs of housebuilding.'

Laura Cooper, Head of Operational Development at Bellway Homes added: 'Bellway is delighted to build on our existing partnership with Teesside University to develop a housebuilding-specific degree apprenticeship in Quantity Surveying.

'This collaboration will help with aligning education more closely with the unique needs of the housebuilding industry. By tailoring the apprenticeship to the demands of housebuilding, we can ensure that learners gain highly relevant, practical skills while helping to build a stronger, more ‘work ready’ talent pipeline for the future.

'This is a fantastic opportunity to attract new talent, support progression, and reinforce the value of vocational pathways into the sector and we look forward to sharing more as the programme develops.'

Teesside University, which recently received an Outstanding Ofsted rating for its Apprenticeships provision, is inviting other companies in the housebuilding sector to work with them alongside Persimmon Homes and Bellway Homes in developing the new Level 6 Construction Quantity Surveyor degree apprenticeship.

The provision, which aims to welcome its first cohorts in January 2026, will perform a unique role in developing Quantity Surveyors specifically for the housing sector in contrast to the broader construction wide apprenticeships currently on offer.

Scott Waters, Managing Director Persimmon Yorkshire, added: 'I am delighted Persimmon will be working alongside Teesside University and Bellway Homes to develop a new qualification focused on quantity surveying within the house building industry.

'At Persimmon we are fully committed to bringing high-level skills and knowledge into the industry, while providing our apprentices with a strong foundation for future success. This partnership achieves both of these goals, and we are excited to see it come to fruition.'

Housing developers interested in supporting the development of this new apprenticeship can contact s.weithers@tees.ac.uk.

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