Read: Unlocking Opportunity

We speak to the Chairman of Persimmon Homes, Roger Devlin, about growing up in the North West and how Persimmon is helping the levelling up agenda by getting people on the property ladder and boosting opportunities.

Q - You’re the Chairman of Persimmon which is in the business of building communities, tell us a little bit about the community you grew up in? 

A - I grew up between Blackburn and Bolton. I was probably a bit like the boy in short trousers in the Hovis ad making my way to school down the cobbled streets with flickering gas lights. I had a two hour commute each way by bus, train and bus to Manchester Grammar which was very much the Holy Grail educationally at the time, so I was very lucky. It was a gritty upbringing but good grounding for building and betting.

Q - What role do you feel companies like Persimmon should play in boosting opportunity and building back better through the Covid Recovery? 

A - I believe we have a crucial role and that’s why we have been changing what we do to make an even greater contribution. We are already a major employer of course. We have also been trying to open up the routes into employment – which is one reason we are so pleased to sign the Social Mobility Pledge – and also pathways for colleagues to progress through the company. We are the first housebuilder to be accredited as a NVQ assessment centre and have 13 per cent of colleagues currently on a formal training programme, for example. I am also delighted we are seeking Living Wage Foundation accreditation.

Q - Purpose-led business and the ESG agenda has really come to the fore recently. What does this mean for you and Persimmon? 

A - Dean Finch, our new CEO, spoke of Persimmon being a responsible business at our recent full year results. We have made important progress – for example, in customer service and training – and new commitments – for example, the Social Mobility Pledge and the Living Wage – that demonstrate this. Perhaps our most significant recent commitment is environmental. We have signed up to science-based targets in-line with the Paris Agreement and set net zero targets for our own operations by 2040 and for new homes in use by 2030. These are deliberately stretching as we recognise the important role we play in achieving the imperative of a net zero economy.

Q - For many people a Persimmon home is their first step on the property ladder, how important do you feel that is for the levelling up agenda? 

A - We believe passionately that we are opening up the opportunity of home ownership to thousands of families every year across the country. Our average selling price at around £200k is 17 per cent below the national average for new homes and we see our role as building high quality homes in communities people want to live in. We also have ambitions to grow the business and extend the opportunity of home ownership even further. In doing this we will give more families that first step on the housing ladder and create more jobs and opportunities up-and-down the country, as we have truly nationwide coverage.

Q - If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or not, who would it be? 

Either Bob Dylan or Margaret Thatcher, but probably not together!

A - What’s your proudest career moment?

I’ve been fortunate to chair Persimmon, William Hill and Marstons – all great British brands. I guess I’m particularly proud of the Persimmon transformation, radically improving customer care and quality while maintaining our outstanding financial performance.

Q - And finally what advice would you give to your younger self? 

A - Follow your passion even if it doesn’t pay well at first – if you work hard and you're good at what you do, success and happiness generally follow. And your mother was usually right!