Discover Bricklaying as a Career at the National Masonry Academy Taster Day
Thinking about a career in construction? Looking to recruit your next apprentice? The National Masonry Academy (NMA) is inviting aspiring apprentices, parents, careers advisers and employers to its Bricklaying Apprenticeship Taster Day on Wednesday 12th August at its purpose-built training facility on Kelham Island, Sheffield. The event is designed to give visitors a genuine insight […]
£1 Billion Apprenticeship Boost to Support 50,000 Young People
The UK Government has announced a major £1 billion investment aimed at helping 50,000 more young people access apprenticeships and high-quality training opportunities over the next three years, as part of a wider push to tackle youth unemployment and close skills gaps across key industries. The funding package forms part of the Government’s broader reforms […]
National Masonry Academy Joins CITB Training Provider Network
The National Masonry Academy is proud to announce that it is now part of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Training Provider Network — a significant milestone that strengthens our commitment to delivering high-quality training across the masonry sector. Joining the CITB Training Provider Network means that the National Masonry Academy has met rigorous standards […]
The National Masonry Academy Expands Visqueen Registered Installer Scheme to Construction Sites Across the UK
The National Masonry Academy (NMA) has announced a major expansion of the Visqueen Registered Installer Scheme, making the programme achievable on live construction sites across the UK for the first time. Previously, the scheme was only available at dedicated training academies, limiting access for many operatives and contractors. With this new rollout, NMA is bringing […]
National Masonry Academy Celebrates a Standout Debut of Fine Art Brickwork Course with Mark Rosier
The National Masonry Academy has marked a major milestone with the successful delivery of its very first Fine Art Brickwork Course, led by renowned master craftsman Mark Rosier – and by all accounts, it was an outstanding success. Held over two intensive days, the course brought together a group of highly skilled, professional bricklayers who […]
CITB Announces Sweeping Funding Cuts and Grant Changes
The CITB has today confirmed a major overhaul of its funding and grant system, including significant cuts, a move likely to ripple across the UK construction sector. The changes, to take effect from early 2026, represent one of the most wide-ranging shifts in recent memory, and come as a blow to many training providers and […]
Alarming Youth NEET Figures Highlight Urgent Need for Skills Pathways
New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that almost one in eight young people aged 16–24 in the UK are currently classified as NEET — not in education, employment, or training. Key Statistics: From January to March 2025, 12.5% of 16–24-year-olds were NEET, down slightly from a year earlier. That equates to […]
Turning Ambition into Bricks: £75 Million Skills Investment to Build the Workforce of Tomorrow
It was a moment of promise and purpose when Mayor Richard Parker stood at Dudley College, trowel in hand, to unveil a bold new vision: a £75 million skills package to train more than 12,000 people over the next three years across the West Midlands, closing the widening gap in construction labour and empowering a […]
National Masonry Academy to Offer Free Visqueen Registered Installer Training for Tutors
The National Masonry Academy (NMA) has announced it will provide free Visqueen Registered Installer training for tutors, strengthening industry expertise and ensuring the next generation of masonry professionals are equipped with best-practice knowledge. Visqueen, the UK’s leading manufacturer of structural waterproofing and damp-proofing systems, operates the Registered Installer scheme to promote correct specification and installation […]
CITB Funding Shake-Up: What Employers Must Know
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is streamlining its grant and funding system—here’s what’s changing, why it matters, and what employers should do next. 1. Closure of the Skills & Training Fund (30 September 2025) CITB is simplifying how financial support is accessed. The current overlap between Employer Networks (ENs) and the Skills & Training […]