Scottish Stone Industry Project Team
Research Report 1

Survey of stonemasonry training in Scotland

1. Background

This survey was undertaken by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), to determine the level of training within the stone industry in Scotland in 2001. A questionnaire was issued to 100 employers in Scotland, who had a direct interest in the working of stone. Only 13 employers returned the questionnaire, of whom 3 indicated that the survey was not applicable to them.

2. Report summary

The response to the survey was disappointing at 13% of companies issued with a form returning any information. The following points can be drawn from the responses:

2.1 The 10 companies providing information employ 143 stonemasons in Scotland. CITB Research would indicate this is about 50% of the workforce.

2.2 10% (14 no.) of the workforce are due to retire in the next five years. This is a high figure and must be a concern for the industry.

2.3 The response on the qualifications held by the workforce would indicate that, at least, 50% (63 no.) hold a qualification. This figure could be close to 90% if it is assumed that 124 employees have either a City & Guilds certificate or an SVQ, but not both. This could be considered a very positive position.

2.4 The number of apprentices (37 no.) is high in relation to 143 craftsmen. This would indicate there is one apprentice to every 4 stonemasons. This can be considered to be a positive position.

2.5 Virtually all employers with apprentices indicated they are all following a route leading to their obtaining an SVQ in Stonemasonry.

2.6 It is interesting to note that 60% of employers in the survey employ Technicians. The number of Technicians (18 no.) represents one Technician to 8 Stonemasons.

2.7 Only three employers have indicated the use of Computing Aided Design.

2.8 The response to the question 'Do you require any upskilling for your existing workforce' is challenging, with 7 out of 10 companies indicating this need. The responses are set out in Section 3.

2.9 The number of apprentices being sought by the ten employers is positive at 16.

3. Detailed answers

The full questionnaire is shown in Appendix A

Table 1. Detailed answers to questions

Question number	Respondent	Detail of response to question
7.2	Do you use computers (CAD) for work with Stone? If 'Yes', please specify
	B/H H	Advanced Level Auto CAD Certificate in Advanced Auto CAD
9.	Do you require any upskilling training for your existing workforce? If you answered 'Yes', please list courses you consider would be helpful
	B B C D D G H J I I I	Design & Drawing etc. Fixing of Cladding CAD etc. H&S Best Practice Advanced Banker Masonry (as run by the Orton Trust in Northamptonshire) Would need to be held in Orkney College Conservation Stonework CAD Upskilling Technology of preparing and using basic lime mortar Preparing hydraulic lime mortars and repointing traditional rubble masonry with lime mortar Conservation Masonry
12.	Do you have any comments on the training provision for the craft of Stone Masonry?
	B D E F H J J	More training in building More clearly defined separation of training between Banker & Fixer Masons Small company cannot afford to spend time training young people Delicately balanced and dependent on amount of reinvestment in building maintenance Member of Scottish Practitioner Group Encourage industry to train more apprentices Glasgow and Edinburgh have excellent training facilities but need more trainees

4. Conclusions

1. The survey has produced some very positive information on the commitment to training by the 10 companies who completed the survey.
2. There is a training and upskilling need, which CITB will undertake to address on behalf of the industry.

Covering letter for questionnaire

Dear Sirs,

STONEMASONRY TRAINING IN SCOTLAND

We have been asked by the Scottish Stone Liaison Group to undertake a survey of the current and future skill needs of our industry in Scotland.

I would appreciate if you could complete the attached survey form and return to me at the address shown, or by fax. The closing date for returns is Friday, 27 April 2001, and after this date the survey will be compiled and issued.

I also attach a leaflet from the Scottish Lime Centre giving details of a programme of courses for Stonemasons in 2001.

I can but thank you in anticipation of your response.

Yours faithfully,

D.M. Fergus
Scottish Manager

Construction Industry Training Board
Survey of skills in craft of stonemasonry

Table 2. Questionnaire used for survey of skills in craft of stonemasonry

Number	Question	Answer
1.	How many stonemasons do you employ?	no.
2.	How many of these are due to retire within the next 5 years?	no.
3.	Please indicate type of qualifications held: City & Guilds SVQ SCORE CSCS Other	no.           no.           no.           no.           no.
4.	How many stonemasonry apprentices do you employ? Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4	no.           no.           no.           no.           no.
5.	Are all your apprentices working towards a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Stone Masonry?	Yes / No
6.	How many technicians do you employ (planners/estimators etc.) in relation to stone work	no.
7.	Do you use computers (CAD) for work with stone?	Yes / No
7.1	Have any achieved any recognised CAD qualification?	Yes / No
7.2	If 'Yes' please specify:
8.	Do you require any upskilling training for your existing workforce?	Yes / No
9.	If you answered 'Yes' to Q8, please list courses you consider would be helpful
10.	How many New Entrants would you be prepared to recruit into the craft of Stone Masonry during the year 2001.	no.
11.	Would you be prepared to take part in a review of the training programme for Stone Masonry?	Yes / No
12.	Do you have any comments on the training provision for the craft of Stone Masonry?

Please fax response to:

D.M. Fergus
Scottish Manager
Construction Industry Training Board
4 Edison Street
Glasgow G52 4XN

Fax: 0141 810 5632

Listed in alphabetical order

• EBS Construction Limited, Glasgow
• Historic Scotland, Fort George
• Hunter & Clark Limited, Glasgow
• Hutton Stone Co. Limited, Berwick-upon-Tween
• Laing Traditional Masonry, Lhanbryde
• M & E Stonemasons, Condorrat
• James Sked Construction, Lesmahagow
• Andrew Tait & Son Limited, Kirkwall, Orkney
• Tradstocks Limited, Stirling
• W & JR Watson, West Calder

Companies who provided nil returns:

• William Avelay Limited, York
• Restore-A-Stone Limited, Glasgow
• Slesser Troup, Insch, Aberdeenshire

Scottish Stone Industry Project Team
Indigenous Materials Project Team