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L2Apprenticeship6371 approved provider
The Level 2 Stonemason, and the 1 provider delivering it.
Install new natural sustainable and ethically sourced stone or conserve, repair or replace existing natural stone in buildings and/or landscape projects.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Stonemasons work with natural stone on new builds, restoration projects, and heritage sites. The apprenticeship covers one of six specialist pathways: Banker Mason, Interior Stone Fixer, Exterior Stone Fixer, Memorial Mason, Stone Façade Preservationist, or Heritage Stonemason. Depending on the chosen route, apprentices learn to cut and shape stone to tight tolerances, produce templates and moulds, install stone cladding or flooring, conserve historic masonry, or produce and install memorial stonework. All pathways include reading drawings, selecting appropriate materials, and working safely on site or in a workshop.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Work varies significantly by pathway. A Banker Mason might spend their week in a workshop sawing and dressing stone blocks, checking components against templates, and preparing mortars. An Interior Stone Fixer would be on site preparing substrates, laying natural stone flooring, and grouting and sealing finished surfaces. An Exterior Stone Fixer installs cladding systems and damp-proof membranes on building facades. A Memorial Mason cuts lettering, excavates foundations, and installs headstones in cemeteries. Heritage Stonemasons work on listed buildings, matching existing stone and following conservation plans. Apprentices typically work under supervision but are expected to problem-solve independently within their scope.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship leads directly to the job titles listed in the pathway chosen, including banker stonemason, interior or exterior stone fixer, memorial mason, heritage stonemason, or stone façade preservationist. Employers range from specialist stonemasonry contractors and monumental masons to heritage conservation firms, large construction companies, and landscape contractors. With experience, stonemasons can progress to site supervision, estimating, or running their own contracting business. The heritage and conservation sector in particular offers long-term demand, given the ongoing need to maintain the UK's stock of listed and historic buildings.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
Bath College
Bath College is a further education provider offering a wide range of vocational and technical train...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship leads directly into a named specialism. Depending on which occupational option was taken, typical entry roles include Banker Stonemason, Interior Stone Fixer, Exterior Stone Fixer, Memorial Stonemason, or Heritage Stonemason. Stone Facade Preservation is a less common but distinct entry point, typically within specialist conservation firms. All of these are skilled, trade-level positions carrying responsibility for finished quality, accurate working to specification, and safe use of natural stone materials.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, stonemasons commonly move into senior craft roles with greater autonomy on site or in the workshop, reduced supervision, and responsibility for more complex or higher-value stonework. Heritage Stonemasons and Banker Stonemasons with strong carving skills can progress toward specialist conservation or restoration work on listed and scheduled buildings. A longer-term route into site supervision, contracts management, or running an independent stonemasonry business is realistic, particularly in smaller specialist firms. Some pursue further qualifications through CITB or sector-specific historic buildings bodies.
Where these roles sit
The trade spans private residential projects, commercial construction, and publicly funded heritage work. Employers range from small specialist stonemasonry contractors and family-run monumental masons to larger construction firms delivering high-value cladding or façade work. Historic England-funded projects, National Trust sites, cathedral and church repair programmes, and local authority conservation schemes all draw on these skills. Memorial work sits within the funeral sector as well as construction, giving Memorial Stonemasons a distinct employer market.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Learning takes place in the workplace and through off-the-job training, with the apprentice developing the knowledge and practical skills specific to their chosen occupational option, whether that is banker masonry, interior or exterior stone fixing, memorial masonry, stone façade preservation, or heritage stonemasonry. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice and employer must confirm that the apprentice is ready, a stage commonly called the gateway. Final assessment then confirms that the apprentice can perform the role to the standard required. Assessment models for many standards are currently being revised as part of ongoing reforms, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Building a strong body of workplace evidence from the start makes the end of the apprenticeship considerably less pressured. Apprentices should keep records of real tasks as they complete them, whether that involves cutting and finishing stone components, working on installation, or carrying out conservation work, rather than trying to reconstruct evidence retrospectively. Regular review meetings with both the employer and training provider help identify any gaps in competence early, giving time to address them well before the gateway readiness check.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Providers worth considering will have hands-on workshop facilities where apprentices can practise cutting, dressing and finishing real stone across multiple materials: limestone, sandstone, granite and slate at minimum. Because this standard covers six occupational options, ask whether the provider structures training around the specific pathway you need (banker mason, heritage, memorial, and so on) rather than delivering a generic course. Achievement rates above 65% are a meaningful baseline here; given the small cohort sizes typical of specialist trades, check whether the figure is based on recent years rather than a one-off cohort. Strong employer and apprentice satisfaction scores, combined with evidence that assessors hold current trade experience, matter more than headline reputation.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious if a provider cannot clearly explain which occupational options they actually deliver, or if they treat all six pathways as interchangeable. Outdated workshop equipment, or facilities limited to one stone type, will restrict practical skill development. For heritage or stone facade preservation pathways, vague answers about access to historic structures or lime mortar practice are a warning sign. Small cohort sizes combined with a declining achievement rate deserve scrutiny: ask for trajectory across the last two or three years rather than accepting a single headline figure.
Questions to ask before you commit
- Which of the six occupational options do you currently deliver, and how many apprentices have completed each pathway in the last two years?
- What stone types and workshop equipment do apprentices have regular hands-on access to during off-the-job training?
- For heritage or conservation pathways, can you demonstrate access to historic structures and practical experience with lime mortars and recognised conservation techniques?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last three years?
- How do you assess an apprentice's work against exacting tolerances, and who carries out that assessment?
- How do you involve the employer throughout the programme, particularly when the apprentice is working toward the occupational option we need?
- Can you put us in contact with employers or completers from a similar pathway so we can understand what the programme delivered in practice?
Common questions
What are the entry requirements for a stonemason apprenticeship?
There are no nationally mandated academic qualifications to start this apprenticeship, but employers typically look for a practical aptitude and an interest in working with natural stone. Some employers ask for a basic level of English and maths, and apprentices who haven't already achieved GCSE grade 4 or equivalent in those subjects will need to do so before they can complete the programme. Applicants must be employed in a relevant role for the duration of the apprenticeship.
How long does the apprenticeship take and what does the working pattern look like?
The typical duration is 24 months, though the actual time depends on the apprentice's prior experience and the pace of their development. Apprentices are employed throughout and learn on the job alongside off-the-job training, which might include workshops, college sessions or time with a training provider. Current reforms mean specific duration and off-the-job requirements may change; check the latest specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page for this standard before committing.
How is the apprenticeship assessed?
Before sitting the end-point assessment, an apprentice must pass through a gateway, at which point their employer and training provider confirm they have developed the required knowledge and skills. Assessment models for many standards are being reviewed under current reforms, so the specific methods in use may differ from earlier versions of the standard. Check the current assessment plan on gov.uk for up-to-date detail. The apprentice must demonstrate genuine occupational competence in their chosen option, whether that is banker masonry, stone fixing, memorial work, or another specialism.
How does an employer pay for a stonemason apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £11,000, which is the maximum that can be drawn from the apprenticeship levy or government co-investment to cover training and assessment costs. Larger employers with a levy account use those funds directly. Smaller employers pay 5% of the training cost, with the government covering the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 staff taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing toward training costs. Wages are paid by the employer and are separate from the training funding.
What does a stonemason apprentice actually do day to day?
Day-to-day work depends on the chosen specialism. A banker mason spends most of their time in a workshop cutting, marking out and finishing stone components to precise tolerances using templates and moulds. An interior or exterior stone fixer prepares surfaces, lays stone flooring, fixes cladding and applies sealants and grouts. A memorial mason works with bereaved clients and installs memorial stones on consecrated and non-consecrated ground. A heritage stonemason conserves and repairs stone on historic buildings, often matching original materials and techniques closely.
What can a stonemason apprentice do after completing the programme?
Completing the apprenticeship qualifies someone to work independently in their chosen specialism, whether as a banker stonemason, heritage stonemason, interior or exterior stone fixer, memorial mason, or stone facade preservationist. From there, experienced stonemasons can move into supervisory or site management roles, or pursue higher-level construction qualifications. Heritage specialists in particular may go on to work on nationally significant listed buildings. Some stonemasons also set up their own businesses, particularly in memorial or bespoke decorative stonework.
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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: 637.
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.