National Trust Building Apprenticeships

From left to right: Bradley Lang, Apprentice Carpenter/Joiner at Lanhydrock, Danielle Platt, Apprentice Plumber at Lanhydrock, Lyle Bosomworth, Apprentice Mason at Killerton, Jenny Sibley, Apprentice Painter at Cotehele and Jake Channing, Apprentice Carpenter at Killerton.

Building apprentices with the tools of their trade

We’re funding a major apprenticeship scheme to help tackle a severe shortage of building skills in the heritage sector.

The scheme, aimed mainly at 16–19 year olds but open to all, offers training in skills such as stone masonry, carpentry, joinery, lead work, plumbing, and painting/decorating.

Places are offered on a three-year contract basis. College and tuition fees are  covered and our apprentices work towards:

  • NVQ levels 2 and 3 basic construction
  • Potential NVQ level 3 or above in heritage skills

As well as getting on-the-job training through working alongside experienced Trust staff, depending on the role and location there may be opportunities to attend general work-related courses.

2011 locations and apprenticeship roles

 

  • Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire - carpenter / joiner
  • Malham Tarn, North Yorkshire - mason
  • Bransdale, North Yorkshire - carpenter / joiner
  • Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire - carpenter / joiner
  • Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire - stone mason
  • Quarry Bank Mill, Cheshire - carpenter / joiner
  • Mount Stewart, County Down - joiner
  • Cotehele, Cornwall - mason
  • Dapdune Wharf, Surry - navigations maintenance
  • Ascot, Buckinghamshire - painter / decorator and carpenter / joiner
  • Buscot and Coleshill, Wiltshire - carpenter

2010 locations and apprenticeship roles

  • Cotehele, Cornwall - painter / decorator
  • Bodmin Estate Yard, Cornwall - plumber and carpenter / bench joiner
  • Killerton, Devon - carpenter and mason
  • Kingston Lacey, Dorset - painter / decorator
  • Montacute, Somerset - carpenter / joiner
  • Buscot and Coleshill, Wiltshire - plumber
  • Dapdune Wharf, Surrey - navigations maintenance

The 2010 apprentices spent a week in September 2011 training at Guedelon, a 13th-century construction site near Burgundy, France. Find out more about Guedelon. You can also follow the apprentices' journey on the Guedelon Facebook page.

How to get involved

For more information and/or to be added to our mailing list, email the building apprenticeships team.

Photo (top of page) from left to right: Bradley Lang, Apprentice Carpenter/Joiner at Lanhydrock, Danielle Platt, Apprentice Plumber at Lanhydrock, Lyle Bosomworth, Apprentice Mason at Killerton, Jenny Sibley, Apprentice Painter at Cotehele and Jake Channing, Apprentice Carpenter at Killerton.