Description

Start Date:

• September 2025

How it works

To join our apprenticeship, apprentices must be employed as a PAYE employee. All students and employers are supported throughout the enrolment stage.

• Students are screened to identify their learning style and whether they require additional support. All students will sit a short English and Maths diagnostic. We deliver Functional Skills in English and Maths so employees can still apply if they haven’t achieved a C grade.
• The Apprentice then attends our College in Ipswich 1 day a week and works with their employer for the other 4 days on ‘on the job training’.
• Apprentice studies towards a Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard in Bricklaying. Apprentice’s studies include theory and practical training.
• For further information on the new standard, please see: Bricklayer / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education
• At the end of the apprenticeship, apprentices have a three-part assessment to pass their apprenticeship. A formal test with 45 questions, an observation on site and a professional discussion. This is known as the End Point Assessment

Who Should Attend?

• This course is for employees who want to gain significant skills in bricklaying and have an employer who can release them for 1 day per week.
• This course is open to 16+ year old’s. Mature students are welcome to apply.

Course Content:

The apprenticeship will consist of practical:

• Duty 1 work in compliance with occupational health, safety and environmental requirements to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of self and others at all times. Report in a timely manner any non-compliances against the construction programme to the appropriate person.
• Duty 2 carry out their work conforming to all current and relevant building regulations, quality standards and work instructions.
• Duty 3 work to the construction programme, adapting to changes in schedule and requirements where necessary.
• Duty 4 prepare the work site including setting out the work and the selection of materials and tools appropriate to the project.
• Duty 5 use the appropriate tools and equipment to construct walls with brick and block to industry standards
• Duty 6 carry out minor repairs or modifications to masonry
• Duty 7 collaborate with stakeholders including clients and other construction trades
• Duty 8 maintain a clear and safe worksite at all times, disposing of waste appropriately and sustainably
• Duty 9 carry out continuous professional development to maintain knowledge of current and future developments affecting the role
• Duty 10 receive, unload, move and lift materials to site for installation following good handling practices preventing injury or damage.

The apprenticeship will have knowledge of:

• K1: Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Fire safety. Health and Safety at Work Act. Asbestos awareness. Manual handling. signage, fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working in confined spaces. Working at height. Electrical safety respiratory protective equipment (RPE), dust suppression.
• K2: Safety control equipment and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).
• K3: Safe systems of work: Site inductions, toolbox talks, risk assessments, method statements and hazard identification in the work area.
• K4: Impact of the sector on the environment: Efficient use of resources. Recycling, reuse, surface water contamination and safe disposal of waste.
• K5: The importance and considerations of the environment and sustainability: Thermal qualities, airtightness and ventilation in buildings.
• K6: Principles of building: Foundations, roofs, walls, cavity step trays, floors, utilities and services, insulation, fire, moisture and air protection, damp proof courses, the use of brick ties and quality of materials.
• K7: Standards and regulations associated with bricklaying activities: British standards, building regulations and warranty provider standards.
• K8: Materials and their characteristics: Bricks and blocks, efflorescence, mortar, damp proof courses (DPC), wall ties, plasticisers, concrete and steel lintels, Rolled Steel Joist (RSJ), fire stopping, insulation, cement and building sand.
• K9: Modern methods of construction: Rapid build technology, precast components, corner profiles, alternative frame and cladding systems, masonry support systems.
• K10: Methods of interpreting and extracting relevant information from drawings and specifications.
• K11: Basic principles of digital design and modelling systems.
• K12: Simple resource estimation techniques: Quantity of bricks and blocks, amount of mortar, quantity of wall ties, DPCs, cavity trays and lintels.
• K13: Hand tool use, maintenance and storage: Levels, measures, hammers, bolsters, brick hammers, trowels, brick jointer, line blocks and pins, scutch, chariot and brick clamps.
• K14: Power tool use and limitations: Disc cutters, mixers and drills.
• K15: Bond types: English bond, flemish bond, garden wall bonds and broken bond.
• K16: Brick solid wall setting out, construction and capping methods.
• K17: Joint finishes: Half round, flush, weather struck and recessed.
• K18: Principles of basic decorative walling and piers: projecting and contrasting brick, isolated and attached pier, banding.
• K19: Principles of the use of expansion joints.
• K20: Mixing Mortar: Ratios, silos, pre-mixed, gauging, hand mixing and mechanical mixing.
• K21: Cavity wall setting out techniques: Bricks and blocks, openings and levels, use of profiles, gauge rods and squares.
• K22: Cavity wall construction using stretcher bond brick and block walling, forming openings, closing cavities. selection and placement of wall ties, insulation, damp proof courses (DPCs), cavity trays, weep holes, lintels and fire stopping.
• K23: Brick on edge and soldier courses: setting out and construction techniques.
• K24: Defects and repair: Construction defects and repair methods.
• K25: Methods of protecting materials and work: Frost, water and construction damage.
• K26: Verbal communication techniques and construction terminology.
• K27: Principles of good team working.
• K28: Inclusion, equity and diversity in the workplace.
• K29: Methods of cutting bricks and blocks using hand tools.
• K30: Brick walls with raking cut: Setting out and construction techniques.
• K31: Well-being: Mental and physical health considerations in self and others and how to access support.

Duration:

• This course covers 12-18 months depending on prior experience and candidates will attend day-release off-the-job training at the college once a week. The remainder of the time is spent with the employer on-site, gaining the experience necessary for the end-point assessment that is taken at the end of the apprentices’ learning.
• At the end of the 12 – 18-month period, the apprentice passes a ‘gateway’ and then is independently assessed by an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO).

Apprenticeship funding

• Please see the guidance for employing an apprentice Employing an apprentice: Get funding for apprenticeship training – http://www.gov.uk
• Every employer has to open an Apprenticeship Service Account in order to obtain funding for their apprentices. Sign in to your apprenticeship service account – GOV.UK http://www.gov.uk this is required before the apprentice’s enrolment date.
• Once your account is set up you can set permissions to allow us as the Training Provider to take actions on your behalf, minimising the administration, for example by reserving funds and adding apprentices’ details.
• Employer Contributions & Funding Options:

Employers Contribution & Funding:

• For new starts from 1 April 2024, where the employer does not pay the apprenticeship levy, the government will fund all of the apprenticeship training costs, up to the funding band maximum, for apprentices who are aged between 16 and 21 years old when they start their apprenticeship training.
• Does this funding cover the cost of my apprentice’s salary?
• No, paying the apprentices salary is an additional cost on top of their training and is the responsibility of the employer.
• Employing an apprentice: Pay and conditions for apprentices – GOV.UK

If you require support with setting up your Digital apprenticeships account  and understanding apprenticeship funding, please contact Kate Rupp on 01473 744412.

https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0095