As an education and skills charity that champions the growth of trades and professions that meet future demands, whether there are two learners or 20,000 each year, NOCN Group is the only End Point Assessment Organisation in the UK for the Stonemasonry Apprenticeship Standard.

Stonemasonry apprenticeships are on the rise due to the UK’s skills shortage in construction as a specialist craft that is vital for conserving the country’s stone heritage. Currently NOCN Group is the only skills charity that has committed to assessing stonemasonry apprentices as part of its focus on supporting the ‘skills solutions’ that matter most.

Simon Lewis, Head of Apprenticeship End Point Assessment at NOCN Group, explains:

“We understand that these highly specialist Apprenticeship Standards come with unique challenges, but as a dedicated charity, we are passionate about doing what’s right for both the industry and learners. We see it as vital that we support niche professions and keep skills, such as stonemasonry alive, regenerating our nation’s traditional skills and supporting the sustainability of our built heritage.”

As stonemasonry enjoys a resurgence in popularity for new construction and restoration projects, there is a significant need for trained professionals. This has led to more opportunities for apprenticeships as construction employers, heritage organisations, and stonemasonry organisations are actively seeking to train the next generation of masons. And whilst stonemasonry is deemed an ancient craft, it has very much evolved in the way that it is taught. When advertising for an apprentice stonemason earlier this year York Minster cited “digital skills including 3D scanning and computer aided design” as key features of the learning programme.

Claire Wallbridge, Training Manager at the Natural Stone Industry Training Group which supports NOCN Group through the provision of assessors, explains:

“This next generation of stonemasonry is an exciting proposition and stonemasonry apprenticeships have seen a resurgence with a 74% increase in demand for apprentices and our college courses now full. As sustainability tops the agenda in construction, more people are turning to stonemasonry for its longevity and low carbon footprint and we are also seeing a cultural move towards gaining handcrafted, artisanal craftsmanship and traditional skills.”

NOCN Group has specifically chosen to focus on Apprenticeship Standards that have the biggest future potential and relevance and offers End Point Assessment for these more ‘traditional’ apprenticeships where skills gaps need to be filled and exciting career pathways can be forged.

Simon concludes: “As demand rises for stonemasonry, it is increasingly seen as a sustainable and fulfilling career path. Apprenticeships offer a practical, often well-paying entry into an exciting profession with high job security due to the niche and specialised nature of the work. With a shortage of skilled tradespeople, apprentices can quickly advance in their careers, gaining valuable skills that are very difficult to replace with technology”.

As a specialist provider of skills solutions to the construction sector, NOCN Group also offers a range of Level 2 and 3 Stonemasonry Qualifications HERE. Find out more about End Point Assessment for Stonemasonry HERE.