Jack O\'Brien at the stonemasonry department on Portland, Dorset, of conservation specialists St Blaise, who recently gained a European Union Adult Learners Award, has now been been awarded the Stonemason Apprentice of the Year prize at Weymouth College.

The prestigious prize was presented this year by Fred Fowler of Fowler Construction at the annual student award ceremony.

When he left school, O\'Brien went straight into the building industry and gained a good insight into stone fixing and marble floor finishing. At 21, he says it was time to consolidate his experience and after some research decided St Blaise offered the traditional apprenticeship he needed to develop a worthwhile career.

During the past three years, in addition to wide-ranging banker work at Portland, O\'Brien has gained extensive and valuable site work experience at the British Great Court, where St Blaise restored the existing Portland limestone facades, the Tower of London and many other significant projects.

David Collier, masonry department manager, said: "With enthusiastic individuals like Jack and a sound investment in traditional training we\'re confident we can continue to reap rewards both for the company and for the stone industry."