Trowel Occupations (Brickwork Level 2 and 3)
The work
Bricklayers build and repair walls, chimney stacks, tunnel linings and decorative stonework like archways. Jobs can range from a house extension to a large commercial development.
They also refurbish brickwork and masonry on restoration projects.
As a bricklayer your work would involve:
- Measuring the work area and setting out the first rows (courses) and damp course, following the architect’s or designer’s plans
- Mixing mortar by hand or with a mechanical mixer
- Working from the corners inwards, building up the courses, laying the bricks on top of each other and applying the mortar with a trowel (for efficiency, bricklaying teams or ‘gangs’ often employ a labourer to keep up a constant supply of bricks and mortar)
- Shaping and trimming bricks using hammers, chisels and power tools
- Checking courses are straight with water or laser spirit-levels and plumb lines.
As the walls go up, bricklayers or scaffolders put up platforms to reach the higher storeys. Joiners usually follow closely behind fitting door and window frames in line with the design blueprints.
Bricklaying gangs may work on different sections of a job at the same time, depending on its size. Some bricklayers also specialise in stonemasonry work. See the profile for Stonemason.
Entry
To be eligible for an apprenticeship, you will need GCSE/S grades in subjects such as maths, English and design and technology, or vocational qualifications such as Edexcel Introductory Certificate or Diploma in Construction, which has bricklaying options.
You can also take college courses in bricklaying, which are open to all age groups. These can teach you some of the skills needed for the job but employers may still want to see some site experience.
The college courses include:
Edexcel First Diploma in Construction (bricklaying options)
City & Guilds Basic Skills in Construction award: Bricklaying (6211)
Intermediate/Advanced Construction Award (Trowel Occupations – Bricklaying).
Training
Once you are working as a bricklayer, you can take NVQ/SVQ qualifications. You normally work towards NVQ/SVQ in Trowel Occupations levels 1 to 3. This contains units covering:
- Setting out work areas
- Preparing mortars
- Laying bricks and blocks
- Building masonry structures.
Annual Income
A bricklaying labourer can earn up to £15,000 a year.
Qualified bricklayers can earn between £16,000 and £23,000 a year.
Experienced bricklayers, including instructors can earn up to £30,000 a year.
Overtime and various allowances can significantly increase income.
Self-employed bricklayers negotiate their own rates.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
Opportunities
Bricklayers work for building contractors and local authorities, but many are self-employed and work on a sub-contract basis for companies as ‘labour only’, with the building contractor supplying the materials.
Your prospects as a qualified bricklayer are very good, due to the expansion of urban regeneration programmes, schools and hospitals building programmes and new development projects around the country. The construction industry estimates that it will need about 5,000 new bricklayers every year between now and 2011.
With experience, you can progress to supervisory jobs, for example site supervisor and clerk of works, or related areas, such as estimating and construction management. You also have the option to work as a bricklaying instructor at a training centre or college.
