Geoff Irvine writes: “Take some of the more strident headlines in the construction press at face value and you'd be forgiven for thinking that projects across the country are grinding to a halt because bricklayers are nowhere to be found. But talk to the people who actually employ the bricklayers, and a very different picture emerges.

According to the CITB, there are currently some 120,000 bricklayers in the UK. If every bricklayer worked a five day week laying 500 bricks a day the annual output of the Brick Industry would be laid in ten weeks.

There are bound to be occasions when procuring bricklayers may be a problem - and perhaps that's how the urban myths are generated - but an objective appraisal of the bricklaying trade will conclude that it's rarely, if ever been in better shape.

The latest figures from the Association of Brickwork Contractors show a 67% increase in apprenticeships in the last three years, and it's estimated that there are double the number of applicants for every available place on vocational training courses.

In other words, there are plenty of qualified bricklayers around at the moment, and - with initiatives from the Better Brickwork Alliance and the ABC's commitment to training and education - plenty of resources and energy are being put into ensuring that remains the case well into the future. Perhaps instead of scare stories about shortages, it would be more productive to recognise the role bricklayers play in the construction process - and make a safe, rewarding environment a priority.

So, what do you think? What's your experience of the bricklayer as an endangered species? ”
Replies to Geoff Irvine's blog

Respone from: michael butters

theres a lot of us bricklayers out there but its the other way round nobodys advertising because theyd be inendated with calls but instead waiting for bricklayers to turn up on site, but like most other people where having to take any work that comes along and wait for advertisements in the mean time vicous circle i think.

29/07/2010

Respone from: Trevor webb

My response to the output levels of a bricklayer is this .As a bricklayer myself 500 bricks a day 5 days a week is a misconception of the output levels of a bricklayer.We have all heard of stories that bricklayers lay1000 bricks a day and i myself have laid in exess of this amount.Building methods have changed bricklayer would only lay brick so all internal works would be carried out in common work, walls would be constructed wider all pushing up output values. But to be realistic about output levels there are many variables to which control the output. ie straight runs longer than 10 brick long and 24 co[BLOCKED]s high laid in half brick stretcher bond would enable the bricklyer to lay in a high output zone allowing him to lay 600+ a day. but unfortunately all brickwork contracts are not like this . Take into consideration openings,piers,dpc tray, tie fixings decorative work,types of poing,bond, insulationthe the list goes on and on.On cetain contracts a bricklayer can only lay bricks for 3-5 hours a day so what is expected to produce. It is naive to think that a bricklayer produces a certain amount a day without tacking into consideration all the variables on the given contract. Lets just say this i have worked on contracts that have eanabled myself to lay 1000 bricks a day and i have also worked on contracts that i have laid 250 a day .If the job will allow the bricklayer to produce he will if it wont then he wont. Where are these apprentices i havent seen a bricklayer under 25 for years i see more polish and eastern european workers on site than apprenrices. I think the construction industry is in the worst state i have ever seen it in over 25 years .The money has dropped at least 30%and empoyers are putting the pressure on their workers to produce amounts of work and price workers are burnning themselves out. iam from the south come on you saints

20/03/2010

Respone from: rob land

well i don't know mr irvine but after reading this out of touch blog i'm thinking he's an older gentleman that has no contact or involvement in the current construction industry, and if he does it will be sitting behind a desk a million miles away from the reality chatting irrelavant crap withh like minded idiots. I come from norwich and i'm a fully qualified bricklayer the current day rate your looking at is £80 - £100 if your lucky and price work on the local sites is £240 per thousand and £6 a square meter for block work this is simply not acceptable these prices are more inline for 1980's. with regards to the comments about "plenty of qualified bricklayers around at the moment" is laughable yes they are qualified but as any real bricklayer knows a peice of paper saying your a bricklayer means nothing, if you don't know you [BLOCKED] from you elbow which a massive percentage of the up and coming youngsters simply don't they are a long way from being a tradesman. a two week course does not make you a bricklayer. In conclusion "WAKE UP" the bricklaying/construction industry is generally on its knees just like the rest of the country.

24/02/2010

Respone from: Bergi the Brickie

I agree with Chief Brody, the sooner these greedy subies stop employing unskilled eastern europeans and paying us skilled British Bricklayers a decent wage the sooner you will see an improvement in quality!

15/01/2010

Respone from: chief brody

geoff irvine is your yout typical sausage jocky how sits in the office all day doesnt get his hands dirty ,probably 1 off the many fat cats how [BLOCKED] on there own country men for a fast profit.and employ polish etc who spread mortar with there hands enough said , m16, a boat gone...........

29/11/2009

Respone from: chief brody

geoff irvine is your yout typical sausage jocky how sits in the office all day doesnt get his hands dirty ,probably 1 off the many fat cats how [BLOCKED] on there own country men for a fast profit.and employ polish etc who spread mortar with there hands enough said , m16, a boat gone...........

29/11/2009

Respone from: Gary Henderson

Geoff Irvine needs to take a realistic view of the industry, His comments are way off the mark, standards are slipping, work is non existent, and the increase of cladding systems is there for all to see. Come on Geoff open your eyes.

25/10/2009

Respone from: dave

I manage in north west england,we are not over run by foriegn labour,and we have no problem recruiting,but ask a brickie,to plumb perps and most of them think your talking mongolian.Training is poor and the quality of most brickies seems to be lnfluenced by the price.A brick can only be layed correctly or not and the price should not affect it.I find a staggering lack of pride as well as poor training,which is appalling and gives all of us tradesman a bad name.We need to ensure people are trained to a high standard and to take pride or the relentless march of cladding and system buildings will find many more of us driving buses or pushing trolleys around tesco car park

28/08/2009
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