A stonemason from Lichfield-based construction group Linford has been awarded a place on the William Morris Fellowship, the national scheme to develop the craft skills of the best and brightest in the country.

Michael Goulding, from Oldham, was selected from craftsmen and women all over the country to receive one of only four fellowship places on the scheme. His selection means he follows in the footsteps of his boss, Andy Chamberlain, who won a place on the scheme in 1992.

The scheme was introduced by The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) in 1987 to help raise the standard of historic building conservation in response to the growing demand for highly trained craftsmen and women who understand the wide range of skills and methods used in conservation projects.

Martin Smith, Linford Group\'s chief executive, says: "Restoration and conservation are the forte of the Linford Group. To have one of our stonemasons on the fellowship is not only a great honour, it also reflects our 125-year reputation for high quality building and restoration work.

The William Morris scheme involves three blocks of practical training that enable fellows to return to their employment between each two month block.

The first two periods are spent travelling across the UK as a group, making daily site visits, studying repair projects and meeting professionals, craftsmen and contractors.

On site, fellows are given the opportunity to discuss traditional building construction methods, the decay and repair of materials, and the range of conservation techniques available.

The final block is then devoted to the individual needs and interests of each fellow in consultation with their employers.

Michael, 23 and who has been with the S&J Whitehead division of Linford for seven years, has just completed a study visit to Saint Paul\'s Cathedral. He said: "Travelling and studying the different renovation and maintenance methods with the scheme has proved to be a valuable learning experience."