Hands on – Bricklaying

Chris Green from Trade Skills Training Limited provides Service leavers with a few points about becoming a bricklayer, a skill which the industry says is in demand.

There is a great of building going on throughout the UK. Whether this consists of major projects such as shopping centres and office complexes or smaller, but very profitable, domestic work like home extensions, our cities, towns, and even the countryside are hives of building activity. Even DIY enthusiasts often ‘call in a professional’ nowadays. So, for people with the right professional approach and hands on skills, the future looks bright. One reason is that ten to twenty years ago there was a slump in the construction industry and many hundreds of skilled tradesmen were laid off. Disenchanted, many people turned to other skills and sectors and now the shortages are really beginning to bite. Recent surveys show that 11 per cent of the members firm of the Federation of Master Builders reported difficulty in recruiting bricklayers, whether as employees or sub-contractors.

Achieving the Foundation Construction Award (FCA) is the first stage in the qualification process and this can be taken as a concentrated course through a training provider. It involves theory and practical work, and includes the City & Guilds D500 exam. The FCA equates to the first year of the Intermediate Construction Award (ICA) or NVQ level 2 in Brickwork, which is vital for a career in bricklaying.

Both the ICA and NVQ Level 2 qualify people as competent bricklayers (except in Scotland) and either is likely to take a further year on top of the FCA (remember that NVQs can only be achieved in the workplace). A professional bricklayer will probably want to move on to the Advanced Construction Award or the NVQ Level 3 in Brickwork and this would take another year of part-time study coupled with further work experience, particularly in more advanced brickwork or on ‘fancy buildings.’

Bricklayers working on construction sites need a separate health and safety exam to obtain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to demonstrate training in health and safety and also competence in bricklaying or working towards becoming competent.

Bricklayers may earn between £16,000 and £25,000 a year (excluding bonuses or overtime) depending on qualifications, experience and location. Vacancies are found in local Jobcentre Plus offices and in the press. Bricklayers moving from project to project need a driving licence. Many are self-employed but this is a major step to take and expert advice is vital.

As well as general construction bricklayers can specialise in areas like restoration and conservation. Some progress to technical levels and then to construction management and many site managers at large building sites are qualified and experienced bricklayers.

The construction industry is very keen to recruit women for all manual trades. Women and Manual Trades has promoted gender diversity in the industry for 30 years and would be happy to advise and encourage interested people at www.wamt.org.

In summary, there are nearly 150,000 bricklayers in the UK, and numbers continue to increase. Plans for major new construction projects – such as the 2012 Olympics and continued work on major airports – mean that demand is expected to remain strong. In addition to new constructions, maintenance and repair on buildings in the public as well as domestic sectors can be a continuing source of work for people who are keen to use their hands and brain in the construction industry.

For further information on bricklaying training offered by TST call them on 0845 345 3581 or visit the website at www.tradeskills-training.co.uk