Summary

Historic England are excited to be seeking a Stonemasonry Apprentice. This apprenticeship will be a 27 month contract working 40 hours a week, 7:30am-16:30.

In order to be eligible for this apprenticeship, it must be at a higher level than any qualification you already hold in the subject, OR substantially different in subject and content to any qualification you already hold at the same or higher level.

You will be working towards completion of your apprenticeship over the course of 27 months. Apprenticeships are made up of 80% of your time on the job, and 20% of your time will be spent off the job, completing a training programme with York College. This training may be delivered by residential block release, meaning you will spend up to one week at a time on campus at the college, or by day release, roughly 1 day each week, as well as online learning. All travel and subsistence costs will be met by Historic England for required training purposes.  

As an apprentice specialising in heritage skills you will be hosted Bonsers Building Restoration & Conservation who are based on Kirklington, Newark.  Your work will contribute to the management of England’s unique historic environment, helping to ensure that it can be used, understood and enjoyed by a diverse range of people for generations to come. All trainees engaged in the programme will benefit from experience of construction on a heritage site. Your programme of learning will be generously grant funded by the Hamish Ogston Foundation and led by Historic England. Some of your learning will take place at Summer School in 2024, where trainees will meet each other and Historic England staff, and practice conservation as an interdisciplinary activity.  You may also be hosted by other construction firms to gain the full breadth of training you need. 

You will be supervised by a skilled expert during your apprenticeship and in addition you will be assisted by a variety of staff from Historic England. You will also have contact with other Hamish Ogston Foundation apprentices as well as other apprentices studying at the same college as you, to discuss your experiences and assist each other through your apprenticeship journey. 

What will you be doing? 

Through your apprenticeship college training you will learn, the foundation understanding of Stonemasonry including:  

Health and Safety on a construction site 

Stonemasonry tools, components and equipment appropriate to the required methods of work; understanding of how to safely use and maintain tools/equipment to achieve the required performance and finish quality 

Movement of materials and movement/storage of stone and the problems/damage that can occur and avoidance methods. 

Environmental considerations in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act: safe disposal of waste, minimising waste (re-use and re-cycle), energy efficiency, how to contribute to zero/low carbon outcomes. 

Through your day to day role with your host organisation and the Historic England/Hamish Ogston foundation Summer School you will learn a range of skills including: 

How to research and collect records using photographic, written or digital collection methods prior to any work being carried out. 

The knowledge required to drill and cut stone backgrounds to receive fixings sympathetic to the existing condition of heritage masonry; safely form openings which conform to the requirements for heritage planning and buildings regulations. 

How to apply conservation techniques to maintain heritage and archaeological accuracy, using heritage techniques and procedures where appropriate, with minimum intervention and minimum reversible alterations. 

The requirements needed to match new masonry components with existing structures and incorporate pre-prepared conservation masonry components and finishes by applying hand cut ornamentation or lettering where required. 

How to plan the sequence of stonemasonry work required to ensure work is completed safely within the allocated time and budget. 

Travel 

This role will require regular daily travel to work sites and college campuses with potential for planned overnight stays. Attendance of a Heritage Skills summer school experience will be required to complete your apprenticeship. A driving licence is not essential but you must be able to travel to the office address in Newark. 

What support will you have? 

You will be supervised for your day to day role and assisted by a personal Learning Mentor from Historic England. You will also receive guidance and assistance from Hamish Ogston Foundation Heritage Building Skills Programme Staff. You will also benefit from the guidance of college tutors and their own dedicated apprenticeships support staff such as workplace reviewers.   

Essential qualifications:

• Maths and English GCSE’s at Level 1 or above

Essential experience, knowledge and skills:

• Passion and interest in heritage and the built environment  

• Dedication, comprehend the importance of punctuality and reliability 

•  Possess good communication skills 

• Curiosity and has a desire to continuously learn. 

• Willingness to work and travel to a variety of locations. 

• The ability to work in both indoor and outdoor settings in changeable weather conditions  

Historic England is committed to providing equality of opportunity. If you have a disability, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you. 

Provisional interview dates; Wednesday 12th July 2023