The Worshipful Company of Masons

4 Feb 2009

For the first time the Company has joined with Stone Federation Great Britain in promoting a new award to find the Project Craftsman of the Year. The biennial Duke of Gloucester Awards now have two categories.

The first for Improver Mason is the original award and will continue to be supported solely by the Masons’ Company. It is aimed at masons who have completed a recognised apprenticeship and training course to NVQ3 level and then served as a mason for three to five years after qualification.

As the work of masons is broad-based awards may be given in the disciplines of carving, banker masonry, paving, moulding and cladding.

Each award is a prize of £450 to be used in the furtherance of the winner’s career and for those who qualified they will be nominated a Yeoman Mason.

The Project Craftsman of the Year

The new award, supported jointly by Stone Federation Great Britain and the Company, is aimed at a stonemason with a minimum of five years’ post-qualification experience.

Applicants will have experience in both site and shop work, an ability to work with and interpret drawings, produce templates and setting out on both new build and refurbishment projects. The Project Craftsman should also have a proven record of supervision and management showing experience of co-ordination, liaison with design teams, managing costs etc.
 
The Project Craftsman will have a portfolio of projects achieved over the years supported with testimony from their employers and/or architects, surveyors, local authorities etc.

The Award will be £500 to be used in the furtherance of the winner’s career and they too will be nominated a Yeoman Mason.

The 2009 Awards were again sponsored overall by the RO Group, thanks to the generosity of Past Master Richard Rowlandson, with the Project Craftsman of the Year Prize being sponsored by the law firm, Watson Burton LLP.

The Awards were introduced in 2007 in honour of HRH The Duke of Gloucester, who has been a liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Masons since 1975 and an honorary member of its Court since 1995 and who, through his architectural background, has a keen interest in the construction industry, our national heritage and in the training of craftsman in the industry.
For Application Forms and further information click here.