The Level 2 Bricklayer, and the 90 providers delivering it.
Laying bricks, blocks and other types of building components in mortar to construct and repair walls.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices learn the core skills of bricklaying across both new build and refurbishment projects. This includes reading and interpreting drawings and specifications, preparing mortar, laying bricks and blocks to tolerance, installing lintels, damp-proof courses, cavity trays, insulation and fire stopping. The apprenticeship covers health and safety legislation, safe use of PPE, and environmental responsibilities such as waste segregation and recycling. Apprentices also gain an understanding of modern construction methods, including precast components and rapid build technology, alongside basic resource estimation.
Day-to-day responsibilities
On site, an apprentice bricklayer will be setting out walls, mixing and applying mortar, and laying bricks and blocks in stretcher bond to specified tolerances. They will use spirit levels, plumb lines, trowels, hammers and chisels throughout the working day. Reading construction drawings, checking alignment, and applying joint finishes are regular tasks. They will work alongside senior bricklayers and site management, and interact with other trades such as carpenters and roofers. On smaller projects, they may also have contact with clients and building control surveyors.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship leads to qualification as a bricklayer, with the CSCS card typically needed to work on commercial sites. From there, many progress to senior or craft bricklayer roles, foreperson positions, or self-employment as a subcontractor. Employers range from small local builders and house builders through to large commercial contractors working on hospitals, retail developments and office blocks. There is sustained demand for skilled bricklayers across the UK, particularly in residential construction, making this a trade with consistent long-term employment prospects.
90 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
CDC Training is an apprenticeship centre owned by Sheffield City Council, providing apprenticeship t...
The JCB Academy is an approved apprenticeship training centre that builds on its engineering and bus...
<p><strong>The Training Trust have been providing apprenticeships and vocational training to young p...
Middlesbrough College Group provides a broad range of education and training routes for school leave...
Craven College is a further and higher education college based in Skipton, North Yorkshire, which of...
Bishop Burton College is a specialist land-based and technical education provider offering a wide ra...
Truro & Penwith College is a further and higher education college offering a broad apprenticeship an...
SBC Training is a Shropshire-based training provider delivering apprenticeships and vocational train...
Yeovil College is a further and higher education provider in Somerset offering a broad apprenticeshi...
Weston College is an award‑winning further and higher education college in Weston‑super‑Mare that de...
Wigan & Leigh College is a further and higher education provider in Greater Manchester that position...
West Suffolk College is a further education and apprenticeship provider based in Bury St Edmunds, of...
New College Durham is a further and higher education college that offers a broad apprenticeship and ...
Cheshire College – South & West offers apprenticeship and further education opportunities across its...
Gateshead College is a further education college offering a wide range of apprenticeship and vocatio...
Wirral Met College is a large further and higher education college supporting over 10,000 students e...
Macclesfield College is a further education provider offering apprenticeships, college courses for 1...
NHBC provides specialist construction training and apprenticeships designed to support the house-bui...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads directly into a qualified Bricklayer role. At that point, a bricklayer works independently or as part of a trade gang, setting out and constructing cavity walls, installing lintels, damp-proof courses and insulation, and reading drawings to hit tolerances on site. Roles exist across new build housing, commercial construction and refurbishment projects, with day-to-day accountability for quality, safety compliance and material efficiency on their section of a build.
Progression paths
With a few years of site experience, qualified bricklayers often move into Senior Bricklayer or Craft Bricklayer positions, taking responsibility for leading a small team and mentoring apprentices. From there, two tracks tend to open up: a supervisory route toward Bricklaying Supervisor, Site Manager or Contracts Manager; or a specialist route focusing on heritage and restoration work, architectural brickwork, or complex masonry detailing. Further qualifications, such as a Level 3 Advanced Bricklayer standard or an NVQ at Level 3, support either path.
Where these roles sit
Demand comes from across the UK construction industry. Housebuilders of all sizes, from local family contractors to large volume housebuilders, are consistent employers, as are commercial main contractors working on offices, hospitals, schools and retail developments. Refurbishment and conservation specialists also hire for this skillset. Most roles sit in the private sector, though public sector frameworks covering social housing and education estates generate steady demand too.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Learning takes place on the job, with the apprentice building practical bricklaying competence alongside employment on real construction sites. Before final assessment, there is a gateway review where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has covered the required knowledge, skills and behaviours. The final assessment then judges whether the apprentice can perform the role to the standard expected: working safely, reading drawings, setting out, constructing cavity walls correctly and applying appropriate finishes. Assessment models for many construction standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification before enrolling.
What learners need to prepare
Throughout the apprenticeship, it helps to keep a running record of work completed on site, including different wall types, materials used and any problem-solving done day to day. This evidence builds into a body of work that supports the gateway review and final assessment. Waiting until near the end to collect evidence makes the process harder. Apprentices should talk regularly with their employer and training provider about progress against each knowledge, skill and behaviour area so gaps can be addressed well ahead of the gateway.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% for this standard on their FATP profile; above 75% is a strong signal given the physical and practical demands of the programme. Because bricklaying assessment is hands-on, check that the provider runs or has consistent access to a dedicated masonry training facility where learners can practise cavity wall construction, setting out and joint finishes on real materials. High employer and apprentice satisfaction scores matter here, as does evidence that off-the-job training is structured around site-realistic tasks rather than classroom theory alone. Providers covering your region and actively working with construction employers of similar scale to yours are worth prioritising.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious if a provider cannot clearly explain how practical skills, such as cavity wall construction, lintel installation and DPC application, are assessed and rehearsed before the end-point assessment. A high volume of enrolments combined with a declining achievement rate warrants close scrutiny. Vague answers about on-site supervisor engagement or an inability to describe how they keep pace with current building regulations and British Standards are warning signs. If the provider cannot point to apprentices who have progressed into employment as bricklayers, treat that as a serious concern.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What training facilities do you use for hands-on bricklaying practice, and can we visit them?
- How do you structure off-the-job training across the 24 months, and what proportion involves practical masonry work rather than classroom sessions?
- How do you keep the curriculum current with changes to building regulations, British Standards, and warranty provider requirements?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the past two years?
- How do you coordinate with the apprentice's employer to ensure on-site experience covers the full range of skills, including cavity wall construction and working at height safely?
- What support do you provide if an apprentice falls behind on practical competencies before the end-point assessment?
- Can you give examples of where apprentices have gone on to employment as bricklayers after completing with you?
Common questions
What are the entry requirements for the bricklaying apprenticeship?
There are no nationally mandated entry qualifications for this apprenticeship, but individual training providers and employers may set their own requirements. Apprentices must be employed throughout and aged 16 or over. Good literacy and numeracy are useful, as the role involves reading drawings and estimating materials. Some employers ask for a basic level of English and maths before the apprenticeship starts, or require these to be achieved during the programme.
How long does the apprenticeship take and what does the time commitment look like?
The typical duration is around 24 months, though this varies depending on the apprentice's prior experience and how quickly they demonstrate competence. Apprentices work in the job throughout, learning on site alongside off-the-job training with a provider. The exact off-the-job training requirement is subject to current reforms, so check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) page for this standard before committing.
How is the apprenticeship assessed?
Before the final assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the standard. Assessment models for many construction standards are being updated under current Skills England reforms, so refer to the gov.uk page for this standard to confirm the current end-point assessment method. The apprentice must demonstrate competence in practical bricklaying tasks to the required standard.
How does funding work for employers?
The funding band for this standard is £13,000. Levy-paying employers draw costs from their Digital Apprenticeship Service account. Non-levy employers, typically SMEs, pay 5% of the training cost and the government covers the rest. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing at all. Funding covers training and assessment costs only, not the apprentice's wage, which the employer pays throughout.
What does a bricklaying apprentice actually do day to day?
On a typical day, an apprentice will lay bricks and blocks, mix and apply mortar, install damp-proof courses and cavity trays, and fit insulation and wall ties. They read drawings to check what is required, set out walls to correct tolerances, and apply joint finishes. They work outdoors on site in varying weather, often at height, and regularly coordinate with other trades such as carpenters and roofers. Health and safety compliance runs through every task.
What can a bricklayer do after completing this apprenticeship?
Completing this apprenticeship leads to a qualified bricklayer role on new build or refurbishment projects. From there, many progress to senior or craft bricklayer positions, taking on more complex work or mentoring junior colleagues. Others specialise in areas such as commercial construction, heritage or refurbishment work. Further progression can include supervisory and site management roles, often supported by higher-level construction apprenticeships or qualifications such as an NVQ Level 3 or a CIOB-linked management programme.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 287.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.