Lay the foundations of a brilliant career and explore how to become a bricklayer and the other rewarding roles in this trade.
The art of bricklaying demands precision, problem-solving skills and manual dexterity. If you’re interested in Construction courses and enjoy working outdoors, becoming a bricklayer could be an ideal path for you. This comprehensive guide will give you all the information you need about how to become a bricklayer in the UK.
Also known as a mason or ‘a brickie’, a bricklayer is a skilled professional who is responsible for constructing, repairing, and restoring brickwork structures.
The work of a bricklayer can include:
Bricklayers usually work on construction sites outdoors and can be required to work at height on scaffolding. They often work alongside other construction workers, such as labourers and scaffolders.
There are a few key skills to be aware of if you’re thinking of becoming a bricklayer. These include:
If you have some of these attributes and are willing to work on the rest, then working as a bricklayer could present an exciting career pathway for you!
Bricklayers play a crucial part in the UK’s thriving construction industry. According to the Federation of Master Builders State of Trade Survey 2024, many of those running construction projects struggle to fill bricklaying vacancies.
The ongoing need for housing across the UK continues to drive the demand for skilled bricklayers, so it’s currently a stable career with good employment opportunities.
You can become a bricklayer without formal training, but most employers will require you to have relevant and recognised bricklayer qualifications.
The three most common routes for gaining bricklayer qualifications involve college courses, apprenticeships and on-site training.
You can complete a bricklayer course at a Further Education college or through a private training provider. If you’re completely new to the construction industry, then a Level 1 Diploma in Brickwork is a great way to learn the essential skills you’ll need. This type of course usually covers:
There’s also the option to do a more general Level 1 Construction Skills course. These courses incorporate a range of practical skills and tasks alongside some of the theories needed to approach bricklaying, carpentry and joinery as well as painting and decorating.
These Level 1 courses lead naturally to more in-depth programmes of study such as the Bricklaying – Level 2 Diploma. On this type of course, you’ll learn more of the essential skills and gain valuable practical experience that will help you as you enter employment. Level 2 construction courses tend to include specialist knowledge and skills such as interpreting drawings, producing joint masonry and masonry cladding and building different types of walls and structures.
Doing an apprenticeship allows you to earn a wage while learning a trade. Apprentices usually spend around 80% of their time learning on the job with a qualified bricklayer and the remaining 20% is spent at college studying essential skills and theory.
You can do a Level 2 Bricklaying Intermediate Apprenticeship over 2 years or a Level 3 Craft Bricklaying Advanced Apprenticeship over 18 months. To start an intermediate apprenticeship, you’ll need some GCSEs or equivalent qualifications including English and maths. For an advanced apprenticeship, you’ll need 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent, including English and maths.
Some employers offer on-site training for people starting in bricklaying, but this can take longer and may not lead to formal qualifications.
In order to train and work on a construction site, you’ll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card. CSCS is the body that provides skills certification for the UK construction industry which helps to maintain safety and improve standards. Having a CSCS card shows employers that you have the correct training and qualifications to do the job.
It’s not a legal requirement that all bricklayers have a CSCS card, but the majority of principal contractors and major house builders will insist that all workers have a valid CSCS card before they are allowed to enter a site.
The costs of a bricklaying course can vary depending on the location, level and provider.
The majority of courses offered by Capital City College (CCC) are free for school leavers aged 16-18. Also, as part of CCC’s commitment to providing broader opportunities for adult learners, students aged 19 and over also benefit from free Level 1 and Level 2 courses (subject to UK residency requirements). There may be other costs to consider for things such as specialist materials and educational trips. You can find out more about our course fees here.
Fees for courses with other training providers can vary greatly. Some companies deliver basic introductory courses for around £500, with longer Level 1 courses costing between £500 and £1500. Level 2 courses can cost between £1500 and £3000 depending on location and length of course.
A bricklayer’s salary will vary based on experience, location, and the type of projects they work on. The starting salary for a bricklayer is around £17,000 with senior or master bricklayers earning over £40,000. The bricklayer’s average salary is in the region of £39,000.
This depends on your chosen route and whether you choose to study full-time or part-time.
As a rough guide:
When choosing a bricklaying course, it’s important to find a training provider that can offer you excellent subject knowledge combined with the opportunity to develop practical skills. You may prefer to go all-in and study full time or you may prefer to keep working while you study.
We offer a variety of Construction courses with differing timetables.
Level 1 bricklaying courses:
Level 2 bricklaying courses:
Some of our courses, such as the Brickwork – Level 1 Diploma and the Construction Skills – Level 1 Diploma are offered at our Enfield Construction Skills Academy, which provides students with important opportunities to complete training and paid work experience, develop their skills and work with a mentor. You can find out more about our colleges and courses by attending an open day.
Once you’ve got a little experience working on-site as a bricklayer, there are various ways to build on what you know. You can specialise in specific types of bricklaying such as stonemasonry or heritage restoration.
Many bricklayers choose to become self-employed and, once you’ve built your reputation and developed a strong network of contacts, you could set up your own business. This means you can have greater autonomy and flexibility as well as the freedom to choose your own projects.
Experienced bricklayers often go on to become construction site supervisors, overseeing the teams working on projects and maintaining health and safety standards. There’s also the option to step into related areas such as estimating, training apprentices or teaching your trade to students at a college.
The construction industry in the UK is an exciting and dynamic sector with plenty of opportunities for career growth. Completing training in construction and working as a bricklayer gives you the chance to work with your hands and complete varied projects that will give you a real sense of achievement.
The construction industry in the UK continues to experience growth, creating exciting opportunities for a range of skilled construction professionals. Our Construction courses offer the practical skills and theoretical knowledge needed to help you start your career. Choose your course and apply today!