Vocational.uk The route, drawn out

Construction & Building

Bricklayer

Lay brick, block and stone to build the structure of houses, extensions and commercial buildings — one of the most portable trades there is.

High demand Can go self-employed Level 2 apprenticeship
Typical pay once qualified
£30,000 – £45,000
Training length
2 years
Apprenticeship standard
Bricklayer
Where to train
243 providers listed

The route, drawn out

DWG 58DF · 5 stops · 2 years to qualify
  1. Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
  2. Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
  3. 2 years Fully qualified around £30k
  4. +3–5 years Experienced up to £45k
  5. Then Your own business you set the rate

The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.

What the job is

Bricklaying is the trade that visibly builds Britain. You work from drawings, set out the first course, and raise walls that have to be level, plumb and to the millimetre — because everything fitted afterwards depends on your accuracy.

It is outdoor, physical work, usually in a two-person gang with a labourer. Pay is often on price (paid per thousand bricks or per metre) once you are quick, which is where the money is. Skilled bricklayers are in chronic short supply and the work is close to recession-proof: even in a downturn, repair and extension work continues.

A typical day

  • Set out and lay bricks, blocks and stone to line, level and plumb
  • Mix mortar to the right specification and consistency
  • Read construction drawings and set out corners and openings
  • Build cavity walls with insulation, ties and damp-proof courses
  • Cut and shape materials, and finish joints neatly

How you get in

  • No formal qualifications needed for most level 2 apprenticeships — attitude and reliability count more
  • Some employers ask for GCSE grade 2-3 (E-D) in English and maths, or will put you through Functional Skills
  • You need to be physically fit and comfortable working outdoors year-round
  • A CSCS card is required to work on most sites — your training provider will arrange the test

Where it leads

  • Advanced bricklayer (level 3) covering complex and heritage work
  • Gang leader or site supervisor
  • Self-employed on price work, then running your own gang
  • Site management via a level 4 construction site supervisor apprenticeship

Where to train for this

243 colleges and training providers on our list cover Bricklayer training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.

East Midlands 15
East of England 18
London 17
North East 14
North West 29
South East 24
South West 18
UK-wide 23
West Midlands 21
Yorkshire and the Humber 20
East Scotland 6
North Scotland 7
West Scotland 9
North Wales 2
South Wales 8
West Wales 2
Northern Ireland 7
Channel Islands 2
Isle of Man 1

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