Dove Holes bricklaying apprentice scoops top award
A High Peak teenager has won a national competition at the Guild of Bricklayers Awards.
Ned Riley is a Level Three Bricklaying apprentice working with Barratt Homes in Whaley Bridge.
Having the opportunity to begin his career practically and still gain the recognised qualifications, Ned - from Dove Holes in Derbyshire - has explored all aspects of the trade while working alongside other apprentices and qualified bricklayers for the necessary help and support.
The 19-year-old said: “When I was asked by the college to take part in a bricklaying competition, I went not knowing what to expect or what I would be building.
“We were assigned bays that we would be working in. We were all then given a drawing and told that we had six hours to complete it. Once we had completed the project, we were asked to leave the room while the examiners were marking the work.
“As the winner of first place in the senior competition I was awarded The Dennis Westwood Shield.”
In completing his apprenticeship at Stephenson College, in Leicestershire, Ned has worked towards achieving his qualifications as well as his personal goals, which are set to further progress his career in the construction industry.
He said: “I’ve been doing an apprenticeship with Barratt Homes for the past three years. I started off with an apprenticeship doing my Level Two Bricklaying qualification which took 18 months.
“When I was coming to the end of my original apprenticeship, I sat my EPA (End Point Assessment), which I passed with a Distinction. Once I had passed, Barratt offered me the opportunity to do a Level Three Bricklaying qualification which I have recently qualified from.
“My ambitions for the future are to run my own gang of bricklayers for a few years to gain further experience. I will hopefully then progress into a site management role.”
Rhys Nicholson, managing director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said: “We’re delighted to see apprentices such as Ned changing the face of the industry and setting a precedent that apprenticeships encourage learning at work and can be pursued to kickstart a career in homebuilding.
“We hope to see more young people getting involved in the apprenticeships offered at Barratt Homes, and we would like to say a huge congratulations to Ned on his achievement.”