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Tag: bricklaying

NEWS | Training commitment expands to Caxton Academy

Posted on by Claire McCammon

IG Masonry Support is delighted to announce the expansion of its apprenticeship support programme through a new partnership with Caxton Academy, reinforcing its dedication to addressing the skills shortage by offering free training support and materials.

Through this new collaboration with Caxton Academy in Birmingham, IG Masonry Support  is taking proactive steps to ensure the next generation of bricklayers are equipped with the skills needed to meet industry demands. As part of this collaboration, IG Masonry Support is providing high quality training resources and equipment including tool bags and tools, uniforms, and training demonstration days.

The initiative reflects IG Masonry Support’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and dedication to giving back to its customers and the wider industry. By investing in the training and development of apprentices, IG Masonry Support aims to contribute to a well-equipped, skilled workforce for the future of masonry and construction.

“We are delighted to be able to support Caxton Academy as they ‘skill-up’ a new generation of bricklayers and façade installers,” said Siobhan Martin, Marketing Manager at IG Masonry Support. “The ongoing skills shortage in the construction industry is a well-known, long-standing issue. We are not just providing tools, training and resources, we are helping to build careers and support construction’s future.”

The partnership with Caxton Academy comes at a critical time, with the sector facing significant workforce challenges. According to the National House Building Council (NHBC), there are still 33,000 more bricklayers needed in the housebuilding sector to meet government targets.

“The support from IG Masonry Support through their donations of tools, equipment and training will help develop students’ skills and prepare them for a career in the sector,” said Ivan Sharpe, Caxton Group Apprenticeship Development Manager. “It is vitally important that the student trainees receive this level of support from manufacturers like IG Masonry Support. We thank them for their generosity.”

For more information about Caxton Academy or to enquire about apprenticeship courses and training, visit the Caxton Academy website.

For more information about IG Masonry Support’s apprentice support opportunities visit igmasonrysupport.com/resources/keyskills.

 

NEWS | IG Masonry Support champions brickwork excellence at 2025 ABC Awards

Posted on by Claire McCammon

IG Masonry Support is delighted to once again sponsor the Association of Brickwork Contractors (ABC) Awards 2025, reinforcing its commitment to advancing skills and excellence across the brickwork sector. 

The annual awards are a celebration of ‘outstanding quality in the brickwork contracting sector’, with the judges evaluating nominees across five categories: Supplier of the Year, Commitment to Training & Development, Project of the Year, Craftsperson of the Year and Bricklaying Apprentice of the Year.  IG Masonry Support will be sponsoring the Commitment to Training and Development category, helping to encourage the builders of the future and assist in the brickwork sector’s continued growth.   

Emphasising the company’s commitment, Scott Denham, Sales Director for IG Masonry Support said: “We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of these awards and partner with ABC who reflect our belief in nurturing talent and driving industry excellence. The type of training they provide is essential to ensuring products innovated by ourselves and other masonry-based companies are implemented using the highest workmanship. By supporting these awards, we are investing in the future of brickwork excellence.” 

The winners of each category will be announced at a gala night being held at London’s St Pancras Hotel on 28th February 2025. It will mark the third time the awards have been held since their inception in 2021. 

For more information on the ABC Awards visit: aofbc.co.uk 

NEWS | Sponsorship continues for The Association of Brickwork Contractors Awards 2024

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

IG Masonry Support is delighted to announce its continuous sponsorship of the Association of Brickwork Contractors Awards. 

The annual event, which celebrates the very best of the bricklaying industry, will be hosted at the St. Pancras Hotel in London on Friday 23rd February.

The finalists have been carefully selected by an esteemed panel of judges overseeing this year’s nominations those being Ian Wilson, Michael Driver, Mick Heir, and Gerard Lynch. The five award categories up for grabs are Supplier of the Year, Commitment to Training & Development, Project of the Year, Craftsperson of the Year, and Bricklaying Apprentice of the Year.

Scott Denham, Sales Director for IG Masonry Support, commented: “We are delighted to be continuing our sponsorship of the annual ABC Awards. We look forward to celebrating the exceptional talent and dedicated professionals within the bricklaying community who are continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation and high craftsmanship.

“The Association of Brickwork Contractors serves as a hub of learning excellence with their continuous training and development opportunities aimed at advancing the careers of current and future bricklayers. We are pleased to be part of that journey.”

The distinguished panel of judges will reconvene in January to determine the deserving winners. The award ceremony promises to be a night of recognition, inspiration, and celebration of craftsmanship.

View the full Award Shortlist.

NEWS | Take advantage of opportunity to support development of bricklaying’s next generation

Posted on by Siobhan Martin

The Keystone Group, the UK’s largest steel lintel manufacturer has launched a new and exciting education initiative to help cement the future of brickwork students across the UK and Ireland.

Serving as an enterprising response to the current building industry skills shortfall, ‘Keyskills’ showcases a wide range of construction methods through free training support and materials. The initiative, involving Keystone Group’s IG Masonry Support, IG Lintels, Keyfix and Keystone Lintels brands, focuses on relieving financial pressures on education establishments to allow extra funding for the development and recruitment of bricklaying training courses. Owen Coyle, Divisional CEO within the Keystone Group, said collaboration with colleges and training facilities will be crucial to Keyskills’ success.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for places of education to offer first-class training programmes and ‘skill-up’ a new generation of bricklayers,” Owen Coyle said. “The shortage of skilled tradespeople throughout the building sector as a whole is a well-known, long-standing issue. We want to collaborate with education establishments to relieve financial pressure and enable funds to be re-allocated back into the development and recruitment of these training programmes.”

Keyskills has a range of gratis benefits to support the recruitment and training process including training rigs and free products to support installation education, tours of Keystone’s manufacturing facilities, training presentations from Keystone’s technical experts, awards and event sponsorship, free merchandise and equipment and more.

According to the Construction Skills Network, the UK needs to recruit 1,450 more bricklayers per year over the next five years to keep pace with building demands. But building to the requisite standard is more than a numbers game, particularly as poor brickwork has been the foremost issue on new-build inspection reports for the past decade. Therefore, instilling the right skillset in youngsters aiming to take up this most traditional and vital of trades will be essential to delivering properties that perform as designed.

Owen Coyle continued: “In the months and years to come, we hope Keyskills will have played a meaningful part in supporting the recruitment and training of the bricklayers we need to meet our future building needs. We look forward to hearing from education partners who are keen to join us on this exciting journey.”

Don’t miss out on this unique training opportunity, visit our Keyskills page to find out how you can take part in this exciting new initiative.

Lee Marley Brickwork Apprentices – each attends their local college weekly to train in bricklaying.