Stonehenge, the foundations of a house and a gravestone. Whilst all very different, they all have one thing in common – they are made of stone. They also have another thing in common, they all need someone to maintain or build them. Is this where you could come in? A level 2 Stonemason apprenticeship can teach you any of these things and more, so this is your chance to find out whether this would be the career for you!
What is an Apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is an opportunity to learn and gain valuable on-the-job experience whilst still getting paid.
Alongside taking on your company duties, you will be able to put 20% of your time towards completing classroom based learning. This is usually through a university, college or education provider, that leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
They are great for people who are early on in their career and want to learn about their sector of interest, those who are looking to up-skill themselves in their role and those who are looking for a career change.
Stonemason Apprenticeship Overview
The purpose of this level 2 stonemason apprenticeship is to install new natural ethically/sustainable sourced stone. It is also to conserve existing stone in buildings/landscape projects. When conserving these amazing buildings (sometimes being historic heritage sites) it will likely they will have damage. As a result this will include repairing or replacing the current stone. For this particular standard, there are 6 specialism routes that you could choose to go down:
- Banker Masons – Mainly in workshops focused on producing finished stone components to specific degrees (end-to-end production)
- Interior Stone Fixers – Install stone components into walls and flooring, along with kitchens and bathrooms
- Exterior Stone Fixers – Install solid masonry and hand-set stone cladding to the outside of structures
- Memorial Masons – Produce, repair and install memorial stonework
- Stone Façade Preservationists – Assess, restore and clean stonework
- Heritage Stonemasons – Conserve, repair and replace stone in historic buildings
What is a typical day in the life of a Stonemason?
A stonemason’s office is never the same. For the stonemason apprenticeship, it could be in the workshop, outside on a construction site or in an office. Two days are never the same. Consequently, on Monday you could be drawing a new design plan and by Friday you are installing some of your stonework.
What is a highlight are the people you get to meet along the way. A stonemason’s work is never alone – you will need to work with bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers and the list goes on! Therefore if you are someone who thrives in a social environment this could be the apprenticeship for you.
Stonemason Occupational Duties
As a stonemason apprentice there will be certain core duties that you will have to meet. For example:
‘Duty 1 – Select, use and maintain tools, components and equipment appropriate to the task being carried out’
There will also be some duties for your chosen specialism. There are an extra two per specialism and they will need to be completed alongside your core requirements. To see a full list of duties, take a look at the stonemason apprenticeship overview on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website. Within this overview, it will also cover the knowledge requirements that need to be demonstrated during your apprenticeship and core duties.
Stonemason Apprenticeship Key Information
This apprenticeship has a duration of 24 months. After the 24 months is when you will then enter the gateway period. The gateway period (also known as an EPA) is when you will complete your final apprenticeship assessments. The EPA will consist of 2 final assessments and will be graded as a pass or fail. Upon completion of these assessments, you will then receive a pass, fail or distinction. Take a look at the full assessment details. You will also need to have your English and Maths qualifications before entering gateway.
If you require funding for this apprenticeship there is a maximum limit of £11000.
Stonemason Apprenticeship Summary
Whilst that is a lot of information to take in, here are the three key points to take away with you when deliberating this apprenticeship:
- If this is the industry you are interested in, this is a great way to learn about stone-masonry and gain a qualification, whilst still being paid
- This is a level 2 apprenticeship, therefore it is open to anyone over the age of 16 who have their Maths and English Qualifications
- This could lead to a long-term career post qualification if you use the opportunity to its full potential
If you are interested in apprenticeships in general, take a look at our other opportunities. You can also follow us on X or LinkedIn. Following will keep you up-to-date with all the new tips and apprenticeship possibilities.