(Above) Students using MBH PLC bricks at Bersham College, Coleg Cambria.
MBH PLC has recently donated a substantial amount of products to multiple colleges for use in educational bricklaying courses; the manufacturer encourages a wide effort across the industry to increase the number of skilled bricklayers, currently at an all-time low. Frank Hanna, Group Commercial Director says, “MBH PLC thinks it is vital to show support towards the next generation of bricklayers in the UK, which is why we have already pledged thousands of products this year to local colleges. We support new initiatives such as the ‘Love Brick’ campaign, initiated by the Brick Development Association (BDA), to preserve the craft of bricklaying through training and education. We also encourage young craftsmen to embrace the recent recovery and demand in the construction industry by mastering one of the oldest art forms.”
In a bid to boost the amount of skilled bricklayers in this country, the BDA is taking its #LOVEBRICK roadshow to a number of colleges around the UK, offering a series of workshops and presentations by the BDA, brick manufacturers and brickwork contractors. Students will have access to written technical guides, presentations and demonstrations, as well as regular communication through social media platforms. The Association of Brickwork Contractors will work with the BDA to drive the study of bricklaying forward, with additional support given to the initiative by the Construction Skills Training Board.
The number of skilled bricklayers in the UK is at an all-time low, following the credit crisis in 2008 and the downturn in the construction industry. However, the latest figures reveal rising employment in the sector with official data showing the number of bricklayers claiming job seeker’s allowance had dropped to its lowest level in a decade; construction wages were also up an annual 4% in July. This makes bricklaying one of the strongest performing sectors for pay growth, and now that the industry is in a phase of recovery, the need for more apprenticeship schemes and training is imperative to avoid a fall in output. The ‘Love Brick’ initiative aims to raise awareness and knowledge of brickwork and the important contribution it makes to the Built Environment.
Investing in training and development
Simon Hay, Chief Executive Officer for the BDA, comments: “We want to encourage people to learn the skills and crafts of bricklaying, so it is essential we invest in the training and development of the next generation of bricklayers. Not only will this increase the jobs in the brick industry and the number of homes built, but we will be preserving one of the oldest and greatest building materials ever devised.”
MBH PLC will collaborate with the ‘Love Brick’ roadshow through training and presentations, whilst continuing to deliver generous donations of clay products to local educational facilities. Britain’s Brick Specialists hope that a new generation of bricklayers will flourish in the UK and actively encourages others within the Brick Industry to support our youth. With 10 colleges participating in ‘Love Brick’ 2014, it is hoped that this initiative will be rolled out further next year and support a wider, growing network of young bricklayers.
