Bricklaying Training Courses in the UK

Why Train as a Bricklayer?

Bricklaying is often called the "king of the trades" on building sites — and for good reason. It's one of the highest-paid site trades, the demand is relentless (the UK Government's target of 300,000 new homes per year is nowhere near being met), and it's one of the fastest trades to get into. You can learn the fundamentals in a few weeks and start earning on-site relatively quickly.

The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) consistently ranks bricklayers among the hardest trades to recruit. This isn't going to change — the average age of bricklayers in the UK is rising, with many experienced tradespeople approaching retirement. For anyone willing to put in the physical effort, bricklaying offers genuine financial security and excellent self-employment potential.

Bricklaying is also one of the most straightforward trades for self-employment. Unlike electrical or gas work, there are no registration schemes or competent person schemes to join. Once you're competent and hold your CSCS card, you can start pricing work and building your client base.

What Does the Work Involve?

Bricklaying is more varied than people realise. A typical bricklayer might work on:

• New-build housing: The bread and butter. Building cavity walls, internal blockwork, and feature brickwork for housing developers. Often priced per 1,000 bricks laid.
• Extensions & renovations: Single and double-storey extensions for homeowners. Usually day-rate or price work.
• Commercial buildings: Offices, schools, hospitals, retail units. Larger projects with more complex bonding patterns and specifications.
• Restoration & conservation: Repairing period brickwork, matching historic bonds and mortar. Specialist work that commands premium rates.
• Groundwork & drainage: Building manholes, retaining walls, and below-ground structures. Often combined with bricklaying skills.
• Stone masonry: Natural stone walling is a natural progression from bricklaying and is particularly in demand in areas like the Cotswolds, Yorkshire Dales, and Northern Ireland.

Qualifications You Need

Core Qualifications

• Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying (6705): The standard entry qualification. Covers setting out, building walls in stretcher and Flemish bond, cavity walls, block laying, and basic calculations. Takes around 1 year full-time at college or 6–12 weeks on an intensive course.
• Level 3 Diploma in Bricklaying: Advanced qualification covering decorative brickwork, arches, chimneys, complex bonding patterns, and thin-joint masonry systems. Required for supervisory roles and valued by discerning clients.
• NVQ Level 2/3 in Trowel Occupations: The workplace competence qualification. Assessed through portfolio evidence of real work. You need this for a full CSCS Blue Card.
• CSCS Blue Card (Skilled Worker): Required for most construction sites. You must pass the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test and hold (or be working towards) the NVQ.

Useful Additional Skills

• SSSTS / SMSTS: Site Supervisors' / Site Managers' Safety Training Scheme. Needed if you want to progress into running sites or managing teams.
• First Aid at Work: Required on most sites. A 3-day course, easily obtained.
• Scaffold Awareness: Useful for understanding working at height safely, even if you're not erecting scaffolding yourself.
• Stone Masonry Qualification: If you want to specialise in stone walling, this is a natural progression from bricklaying.

Training Routes

1. Apprenticeship (2–3 years)

The Level 2 Bricklayer apprenticeship takes 2–3 years. You'll work for a builder or bricklaying subcontractor while attending college (day release or block release). It's the most thorough route — you get real site experience, learn from experienced tradespeople, and your employer covers training costs. The challenge is finding an apprenticeship: competition is fierce and many small builders don't have the time to train apprentices.

2. Intensive / Fast-Track Courses (2–12 weeks)

This is where bricklaying differs from many trades. You can learn the basic techniques in as little as 2 weeks on an intensive course (£1,000–£2,500). More comprehensive courses covering Level 2 take 6–12 weeks (£2,500–£5,000). Because bricklaying is fundamentally a manual skill — speed and accuracy come with practice — many people get their technical knowledge through a short course and then develop their skills on the job.

The honest truth: A 2-week bricklaying course won't make you site-ready. You'll understand the principles and basic techniques, but speed comes with months of practice. Budget for 3–6 months of lower productivity while you build up speed and accuracy. A good labouring job alongside an experienced bricklayer is worth its weight in gold during this period.

3. College Course (1 year full-time)

FE colleges offer the Level 2 Diploma in Bricklaying as a full-time course (September to June). Costs are typically £1,000–£2,500 for adults, and free for 16–18 year-olds. You'll get more workshop time than an intensive course and cover theory in more depth. The downside is the longer timeframe and the need to arrange your own work experience for the NVQ.

Costs Breakdown

Career Prospects & Salary

Bricklaying is one of the best-paid site trades. Most experienced bricklayers work on a price basis (per 1,000 bricks or per square metre) rather than day rates, which means your earnings are directly linked to your speed and efficiency:

• Apprentice: £12,000–£18,000 per year
• Newly qualified bricklayer: £24,000–£30,000
• Experienced bricklayer (employed, day rate): £180–£220/day (£36,000–£44,000/year)
• Experienced bricklayer (price work): £200–£350+/day (£40,000–£65,000+/year)
• Self-employed bricklayer: £35,000–£55,000+
• Bricklaying gang leader (with labourers): £50,000–£70,000+

Price rates vary by region but as a guide: housing developers typically pay £450–£550 per 1,000 bricks for standard facing work. A fast bricklayer can lay 400–500 bricks per day with a labourer, meaning daily earnings of £200–£280 just on facing brick. Add in blockwork, and daily earnings can be significantly higher.

The Physical Reality

It would be dishonest not to mention: bricklaying is physically demanding. You're working outdoors in all weathers, lifting heavy materials, and maintaining precise accuracy for 8+ hours a day. Common health concerns include:

• Back and shoulder strain: Proper lifting technique and regular stretching are essential. Many bricklayers use ergonomic tools and mortar boards at the correct height.
• Hand and wrist issues: Repetitive strain from trowel work. Good-quality tools and taking breaks help.
• Weather exposure: Working in cold, wet conditions is part of the job. Good layering and waterproof clothing make a huge difference.
• Dust and cement burns: Always wear gloves when handling cement and use dust masks when cutting blocks or bricks.

That said, many bricklayers work well into their 50s and 60s. Looking after your body, staying fit, and not cutting corners on safety gear makes all the difference.

Career Progression

• Gang Leader: Run your own team with a labourer and take on larger price-work contracts.
• Stone Mason: Natural progression — stone walling and restoration pays premium rates.
• Site Foreman / Manager: Move into running whole sites, coordinating multiple trades. SMSTS qualification opens this door.
• Building Contractor: Many successful small builders started as bricklayers. Understanding the core structural trade gives you a huge advantage in project management.
• Heritage Specialist: Restoration work on listed buildings, churches, and historic structures. Niche, well-paid, and deeply satisfying.