The competition is open to teams of three apprentices from UK stonemasonry colleges and 26 apprentices from nine colleges in England, Scotland and Wales took part in this year’s competition.

Thomas represented Weymouth College and with team-mate Jamie Harris finishing as runner up, Weymouth repeated last year’s success in providing the top two competitors.

Levi Bavester from Moulton College was third and helped Moulton, which hosted this year’s event, win the team award. They will be presented with the Peter Ellis Shield and each team member receives a trophy and cheque for £50.

Thomas (19) wins a cheque for £300, with cheques for £200 and £100 going to the runner-up and third placed competitors respectively.

On his way to victory Thomas had won the England and Wales heat with Colin Taylor from Elgin Stonemasonry College winning the Scottish heat.

Bristol-born Thomas studied for an arts foundation diploma at Filton College and it was there that a lecturer noted his skill in carving and suggested stonemasonry as a career. “I have always been good at carving with materials such as thermalite block, but I am not too good on the creative side. I can execute against a plan, but can’t come up with the ideas so working to a drawing is perfect for me.

“I was very nervous for about a week before the competition but once it got started I loved it. I managed to finish the project with about fifty minutes to spare so spent the time just tidying it up. I have only just started the apprenticeship so there’s plenty of time to make my mind up about the future”.

Competitors had to complete a specific project in an agreed time. They were given a drawing, a piece of Portland Stone donated by Corinthian South Wales Ltd and the materials necessary for making moulds and templates. The stone then had to be worked with a traditional mallet and chisel and no mechanical tools were allowed.

Their work was judged by Andy Maclean, a former apprentice himself who formed his own business, Stewart Design (UK), in 1995 and by Sean Collins, who has been Managing Director of Boden and Ward Stonemasons for the past ten years and is also a mason.

Stone Federation Chief Executive Jane Buxey commented: “This competition demonstrates the wealth of talent that exists among stonemasonry apprentices and it is reassuring to see this traditional craft still being taught to such a high standard in UK colleges.

“It is important that we continue to train the natural stone craftsmen of the future and the high standard of this competition demonstrates that we have some very talented individuals entering the industry.”

The top eight individual competitors qualified to enter Britain’s biggest skills competition, Skillbuild, which takes place at Coleg Menai in Wales in September.

Colleges taking part in this year’s UK Masonry Skills Challenge were: Bath College, Building Crafts College, Coleg Menai, Elgin Stonemasonry, Glasgow Metropolitan, Moulton College, Telford College, Weymouth College and York College.