Stonemason Apprentice - Level 2 – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

As one of our Stonemason apprentices you will work at one of our Specialist Craft Centres and learn complete banker and fixing work including lime pointing and rendering, stone dressing, stone/tile paving repairs, stone/slate roofing repairs and installing bespoke new stonework into heritage buildings.

Wage

£23,810 a year

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Training course

Stonemason (level 2)

Hours

Fixed term, full-time (37.5 hours per week to 01/12/27). Shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

2 years 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Our Specialist Craft Centres have been created to develop a skilled workforce for the National Trust which demonstrates the highest levels of skills, promotes and preserves heritage building crafts, inspires people to take up traditional crafts skills and helps us to repair and conserve our special places, for everyone, for ever. We own and care for one of the largest, most varied and most significant collections of built structures in Europe. The greatest proportion of our 28,500 buildings and structures were constructed pre-1919 and these have high heritage value, with a range of uses – from offices to workshops, mansions to cottages. Our crafts people are an integral part of looking after our assets, using their skills to conserve and maintain our buildings and structures, and being part of creating a lasting legacy.

You will be based at the masons’ workshop at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal near Ripon, North Yorkshire. You will assist the masonry team to undertake specialist and heritage masonry works such as mortar repairs, and stone repairs and replacements on our heritage properties in the north of England. Whilst sometimes using modern equipment, the methods of work will be true to those used when the properties were originally constructed. You will gain a wealth of experience working as part of our experienced specialist crafts team.

Where you'll work

Fountains Abbey
Fountains
Ripon
HG4 3DZ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

YORK COLLEGE

Your training course

Stonemason (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Core - Carry out safe stonemasonry working practices, comply with health, safety and welfare legislation, conduct risk assessments; Report any workplace hazards, incidents, near misses, accidents or emergencies.
Core - Apply all safeguards and complete pre-use checks when using tools.
Core - Select and use the appropriate tools, components and equipment; Repair and maintain tools, components and equipment.
Core - Plan the sequence of stonemasonry work required; Ensure work is completed safely within the allocated time and budget and report any situations which affect the work schedule.
Core - Select the required type and quantity of materials, move, handle and store safely.
Core - Set out and work stone to receive enrichments such as flat, moulded, straight and curved, internal and external mitres, stop ends and returned ends.
Banker Stonemason - Produce enrichments for example repeated enrichment (egg and dart, or tongue and dart, or bead and reel), v-cut carving, high relief carving or low relief carving.
Core - Position and secure the stones in the required locations and identify bedding planes to suit the use of the stone component; When securing stone, ensure correct measurement, marking out, shape, level, fit, finish and position.
Core - Comply with specific organisational and manufacturer's quality standards as required by the job specification and report any variation in quality, implementing agreed corrective actions where required.
Core - Clean and tidy work area when work is finished; Store, transport and dispose of masonry waste; Reduce, reuse or recycle waste produced; Use work practices and resources which will contribute to zero/low carbon outcomes
Core - Communicate with colleagues/customers; use industry terminology.
Core - Ensure the products are the right size and fit to meet the design specification.
Banker Stonemason - Measure, mark out, cut and finish standard templates or moulds.
Banker Stonemason - Produce true and square natural stone components.
Banker Stonemason - Prepare, conserve, repair or refurbish existing stone masonry by replicating, removing, replacing or stabilising the existing structure; prepare mortars, joint finishing and applying surface finishes, all of which match existing masonry as close as possible or are in line with the conservation plan.
Banker Stonemason - Produce basic section bed and face moulds for natural stone components.
Banker Stonemason - Produce bespoke natural stone components: for example shaped curved on plan, tracery, ramp and twist, spheres, entablature, ionic components or finials
Interior Stone Fixer - Check and prepare existing internal surfaces to receive stonework; apply pre-sealants, water and solvent based final sealants and protection.
Interior Stone Fixer - Mix and apply mortar and sand renders, adhesives and grouts, substrates and screeds (including self-levelling); install thermal, movement and expansion joints.
Interior Stone Fixer - Form angles, reveals, cills and soffits, floor drainage and outlets; install membranes and lay natural stone flooring to regular and irregular surfaces, fix trims and movement joints including treads, risers and landings; fix internal stonework to vertical, horizontal and inclined wall and floor surfaces; fit internal treads, risers and work surfaces.
Interior Stone Fixer/Exterior Stone Fixer - Grout, seal, clean, secure and finish stonework; bed, joint and point natural stone flooring, match finishes where possible and fix accessories (e.g. wire restraint fixings, channels) to wall slabs.
Exterior Stone Fixer - Prepare backgrounds for load bearing support and restraint systems, insulation (e.g. membranes and fire stops), cavity trays and damp proof membranes (DPM); apply waterproof sealants to background surfaces; install and remove mechanical fixings, shims and spacers.
Exterior Stone Fixer - Install and fix external cladding with load-bearing support and restraint systems; repair or replace defective stone cladding as required; identify and mix mortars, resins and adhesives; identify and fix suitable reinforcements and fixings; form suitable joint finishes which are sympathetic to existing building.
Memorial Stonemason/Stone Facade Preservation - Prepare and mix lime mortars, hydraulic and non-hydraulic limes, lime mortars with additives or lime mortars with fibres (natural or synthetic) as appropriate.
Memorial Stonemason - Install and secure memorial stones, ensuring that ground and surface conditions are checked and recorded, area is excavated and foundations are laid.
Memorial Stonemason - Mark out, position, inscribe, ornament and finish details on memorial stones; produce and use templates for sandblasting; safely use sandblasting equipment to produce details, lettering and ornamentation; finish memorial work using gilding and hand polishing.
Stone Facade Preservation - Dismantle facade surfaces to allow for safe and effective cleaning and preservation; brush, use jets and sprays to clean facades; effectively clean flat, textured & moulded stone and art stone using chemical and non-chemical methods; effectively clean non-masonry surfaces e.g. burnt clay, cast stone, metal, plastic, plastic-coated materials, wood, glass by chemical and non-chemical methods.
Stone Facade Preservation – Measure, mark out, cut, fit, mix, spread, dress, descale, point, position and secure when restoring façade surfaces; Restore in-situ units, façades and joints on flat, textured and moulded natural stone and on burnt clay, art stone and concrete.
Heritage Stonemason - Collect records using photographic, written or digital collection methods prior to any work being carried out.
Heritage Stonemason - Drill and cut stone backgrounds to receive fixings sympathetic to the existing condition of heritage masonry; safely form openings which conform to the requirements for heritage planning and buildings regulations.
Heritage Stonemason - Apply conservation techniques to maintain heritage and archaeological accuracy, using heritage techniques and procedures where appropriate, with minimum intervention and minimum reversible alterations.
Heritage Stonemason - Match new masonry components with existing structures and incorporate pre-prepared conservation masonry components; Finish by applying hand cut ornamentation or lettering where required.
Core - Carry out safe stonemasonry working practices, comply with health, safety and welfare legislation, conduct risk assessments; Report any workplace hazards, incidents, near misses, accidents or emergencies.
Core - Apply all safeguards and complete pre-use checks when using tools.
Core - Select and use the appropriate tools, components and equipment; Repair and maintain tools, components and equipment.
Core - Plan the sequence of stonemasonry work required; Ensure work is completed safely within the allocated time and budget and report any situations which affect the work schedule.
Core - Select the required type and quantity of materials, move, handle and store safely.
Core - Set out and work stone to receive enrichments such as flat, moulded, straight and curved, internal and external mitres, stop ends and returned ends.
Banker Stonemason - Produce enrichments for example repeated enrichment (egg and dart, or tongue and dart, or bead and reel), v-cut carving, high relief carving or low relief carving.
Core - Position and secure the stones in the required locations and identify bedding planes to suit the use of the stone component; When securing stone, ensure correct measurement, marking out, shape, level, fit, finish and position.
Core - Comply with specific organisational and manufacturer's quality standards as required by the job specification and report any variation in quality, implementing agreed corrective actions where required.
Core - Clean and tidy work area when work is finished; Store, transport and dispose of masonry waste; Reduce, reuse or recycle waste produced; Use work practices and resources which will contribute to zero/low carbon outcomes
Core - Communicate with colleagues/customers; use industry terminology.
Core - Ensure the products are the right size and fit to meet the design specification.

Your training plan

Your training will be based at a specialist college and be delivered via a combination of 24 residential college block weeks and online learning, with all college expenses and travel paid. There will also be opportunities to travel to other National Trust locations with some overnight stays to expand your learning and experience. You will also be able to join other training events and learn from industry colleagues internally and externally.

You’ll be working with your Trust Line Manager/Mentor on tasks specific to your apprenticeship, developing the skills & knowledge relevant to this apprenticeship standard, and working outdoors in all weathers.

You will attend, and prepare for, regular review meetings with your training provider, and be accountable for your own progression. You will be required to complete mandatory e-learning, courses and training provided.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 2)
Maths (grade 2)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Team working
Physical fitness

About this company

We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. We look after hundreds of houses and close to a million objects, along with vast areas of coastline, countryside and green spaces, for everyone’s benefit. With our staff, members, volunteers and supporters, we’re the biggest conservation charity in Europe. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference.

https://www.nationaltrustjobs.org.uk/where-you-could-work/apprenticeships/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

We anticipate this role will lead to level 3 Advanced Stonemasons apprenticeship (currently being finalised) and/or progression to a 12 months’ work placement.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

YORK COLLEGE

apprenticeships@nationaltrust.org.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000321309.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Monday 2 June 2025)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Please apply directly via the National Trust website

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Stonemason Apprentice - Level 2

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