THE UK's second largest housebuilder is to increase the number of apprenticeships to tackle the skills shortage in the construction industry.

Persimmon Homes, which is based in York, is increasing app-rentice and graduate placements this year.

The total number of apprentices is to rise from more than 350, while graduate placements will also increase over the next few years.

It is also encouraging contractors to train apprentices where possible and estimates that through these companies, at least 400 apprentices work on Persimmon developments throughout the country.

John White, group chief executive of Persimmon, said: "The industry as a whole is clearly making headway in terms of attracting more young people to consider a career in construction.

"But attracting people into the industry is only half the battle.

"We have been speaking to careers advisors across the UK who regularly find themselves struggling to convert that initial interest into a career path, often because of insufficient work experience and job placements.

"We hope the extra apprentices and trainee managers in various departments at Persimmon Homes will go some way to addressing this shortfall of initial steps on to the career ladder.

"With the industry crying out for fresh talent we shall very much look forward to tracking the progress of all our new and existing trainees."