Craft bricklayer
Level 3 · AdvancedConstruction and the built environment 1.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Craft Bricklayer apprenticeship trains you to lay bricks, blocks, and stone to build walls, chimneys, arches, and other masonry structures in residential and commercial construction to a professional craft standard. You will master both new build and restoration brickwork, including decorative and heritage techniques. This Level 3 qualification represents the full craft standard for bricklaying and leads to careers as a skilled bricklayer, foreperson, or contractor.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Principles of masonry construction and how brickwork carries structural loads
Setting out, levelling, and plumbing walls to precise tolerances
Pointing, jointing, and finishing techniques for different mortar types
Decorative brickwork including corbelling, soldier courses, and arched openings
Restoration and matching techniques for working on older brick buildings
Health and safety on masonry sites including COSHH for cement dust
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Set out and build brick and block walls to drawings and specifications
Mix and apply mortars, ensuring correct consistency and joint finish
Build complex features such as arches, piers, and corner quoins
Cut bricks accurately using disc cutters and bolsters
Rake out and repoint deteriorated masonry on existing structures
Erect and work safely from trestle, scaffold, and mobile access platforms
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
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