Stone's Trailblazer Apprenticeship has had it’s 'End Point Assessment' (final exam) signed off by the Institute for Apprenticeships, set up by the government to oversee the creation of Trailblazer apprenticeships.

The government has given itself exclusivity on apprenticeships, which now all have to be Trailblazers. Other training continues but is not allowed to be called an apprenticeship.

Agreement of the end point assessment means the Trailblazer for stonemasons is now complete... well, almost. It is still awaiting final sign off from the Department for Education regarding the grant that will be assigned to the delivery of it.

Colleges in England that intend to deliver the new apprenticeship are Bath College, Building Craft College London, York College and Weymouth College. York College says if the grant is agreed in time it intends to start the first year with a three week block attendance commencing on 30 November.

Claire Wallbridge, the Natural Stone Industry Training Group and Stone Federation StoneTrain Training Officer, says: "We have received huge support and input from Steve Potter, our assigned Institute for Apprenticeship Manager, and he is pushing to get the final process secured on behalf of the whole sector."

Once the grant is agreed, colleges will be in a position to start delivering the apprenticeship qualification, which has to include off-site training at college as well as on-site training with a company. Anyone wanting to take on apprentices and obtain the CITB grant for them should contact their preferred college to make arrangements.

If you need any help, Claire Wallbridge would be happy to oblige. Email her on claire@nsitg.org.uk.

Otherwise, take a look at the website: