A former Auchinleck Academy pupil has said his journey to being a Managing Director would not have been possible without the aid of an apprenticeship.

Chris Logan left Auchinleck Academy in June 2004, aged 16, to start an apprenticeship with East Ayrshire Council.

Chris was assigned to work within the planning department, where he would learn the tricks of the trade from veteran planners who had worked with the local authority for years.

After completing an SVQ Level 2 in Business Administration in record time, Chris was given an administrative assistant role within the planning department, supporting the team with various tasks.

He was further enrolled in Glasgow Metropolitan College to complete an HND in Planning and General Practice Surveying from 2006-08.

Chris began a BSc Hons in Urban and Regional Planning not long after at university.

After completing his further education journey and returning to East Ayrshire Council, Chris’ passion for planning caught the eye of Persimmon Homes, one of the nation’s largest home builders, who offered him a role as a Graduate Planner in their West Scotland business.

Cumnock Chronicle: Chris Logan alongside his directorsChris Logan alongside his directors (Image: Persimmon Homes)

Joining the business in 2012, his time at Persimmon has seen Chris rise through the ranks at a rapid rate. A promotion to Planner in 2013 then Land Manager in 2015 was followed by another rise to the Head of Land position in 2019.

That was followed by a promotion to Land Director in 2020 before taking on the top job as Managing Director of the business in 2021.

During Chris’ tenure at Persimmon West Scotland, the business has taken on a record number of apprentices and internal progression is a big priority – with over 77 per cent of Persimmon appointments being internal promotions.

Speaking about his journey, Chris said: “I can’t speak highly enough of my own apprenticeship, which first and foremost gave me the opportunity to find out about the world of work and discover what I was passionate about.

“My time as an apprentice with East Ayrshire Council helped equip me with a range of skills and experiences, all of which have stood me in good stead for the rest of my career – including in my current role where I lead a team that builds hundreds of new homes every year.

“I am proud that Persimmon places such a big priority on developing our future talent pipeline.

"We’re working hard to increase the number and improve the diversity of our apprentices so we can continue to provide exciting opportunities in our sector for everybody within the communities in which we build.”