Trainee stonemason (3 places)

Details

Deadline: 27/11/25

Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, is hiring three trainee stonemasons. Cadw conserves Wales’s heritage to the best possible standard and help to sustain the distinctive character of Welsh landscapes and towns. Their in-house conversation teams carry out statutory responsibilities for the conservation and maintenance of the monuments in their care. Primary functions are to undertake stone masonry conservation works, cyclical and reactive maintenance and presentation works at Cadw’s sites and monuments within a geographical area.

Key duties: 

• To support the in-house masonry teams in completing set tasks, working on historic monuments, including working at height from scaffold at times.
• To carry out mandatory training in H&S ensuring they work safely and compliantly with regulations, adhering to workplace and construction site safety, and carry out ToolBox Talks in rotation with colleagues.
• To ensure that all PPE is worn.
• Complete structured internal and external training modules programmed over the 2 year placement.
• To carry out masonry related repairs and conservation techniques to historic fabric.
• Work on Cadwraeth conservation projects and planned and reactive maintenance works.
• Supporting the Supervisor in ensuring that the team adhere to the approved conservation programme on each project.
• To mix traditional mortars effectively and consistently, closely following specified mixes.
• To carefully remove vegetation, rake out perished, loose and inappropriate mortar joints, minimising damage to stonework.
• To carry out general labouring duties.
• To prepare and re-point historic and non-historic masonry sections in line with specification and following industry best practice.
• To effectively protect new mortar during curing, dependent on weather, temperature and exposure etc.
• To record unsound masonry sections when identified meticulously, prior to careful dismantling, to include individual stone locations, orientation and joint thickness etc, to ensure that reconstructed sections are a true and honest representation of the original.
• To ensure that all masonry work is carried out to best practice using traditional methods.
• Supporting the team and supervisor in ensuring that all works are carried out to the highest standard.
• Providing support to the team by safely using and driving the Cadw branded fleet vehicles.
• Supporting the team by ensuring the Cadw fleet is kept to the highest standard of cleanliness.
  Any other duties commensurate with the grade as directed by the line manager.

Candidates will need to demonstrate some basic knowledge of construction and health and safety regulations, and some experience of working in masonry/bricklaying/plastering either through having attended courses and training, or practical experience on site. Posts are available on a fixed term contract lasting two years.