Bricklayers
Up to £43,088 /year
Bricklayers erect and repair brick, pre-cut stone and concrete block structures such as walls, paving, chimney stacks and tunnel lining.
Admissions
Entry Requirements
What You'll Need
- No grades required
- A genuine interest in working with your hands and learning a trade
- Successful interview with our team
If you haven't yet achieved Grade 4 in Maths or English, you'll keep working towards them alongside your course, built into your timetable.
Explore Related Courses
Other courses you might be interested in:
Level 1 Level 1 Certificate Construction Skills CG
Level 1 Level 1 Certificate in Bricklaying
Level 1 Level 1 Certificate in Carpentry & Joinery
Level 1 Level 1 Diploma in Painting & Decorating
View all Construction courses →
What You'll Learn
Try Five Trades. Find Yours.
This is a proper hands-on introduction to the trades. You’ll work across bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, plastering, painting and decorating, and general construction operations, getting a real feel for each trade in the workshop before you decide where to specialise. Alongside the practical work, you’ll learn health and safety in construction and how the industry actually works, because getting that right is the first thing any employer looks for.
You’ll build up credits by completing a choice of practical tasks across the trades. By the end of the year you’ll know which trade suits you, you’ll have the safety and site knowledge to back it up, and you’ll be ready to move up to a Level 1 course or a trade-specific route.
Core Units
- Health and safety in construction
- Introduction to the construction industry
Five Practical Tasks
- Bricklaying
- Carpentry and Joinery
- Plastering
- Painting and Decorating
- Construction Operations
A choice of five practical tasks across the trades to gain your credits
How You're Assessed
Assessment Methods
Practical Assessment
Hands-on tasks and practical demonstrations in realistic working environments.
Exams
Formal examinations to test your knowledge and understanding under timed conditions.
Career Destinations
Where This Course Takes You
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Elementary Construction Occupations
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Job holders in this unit group perform a variety of general labouring and construction duties to assist building, civil engineering and related trades workers in the performance of their tasks.
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Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers assemble, install, maintain and repair plumbing fixtures, heating and ventilating systems and pipes and pipeline systems in commercial, residential and industrial premises […]
Your Progression Pathway
- Entry Level 2
- Entry Level 3 Entry 3 Certificate Multi-Skills Construction Trades
- Level 1 pathways
- Level 2 or Apprenticeships
Life on the Course
See What It's Really Like
Our Facilities
Big, Well-Equipped Workshops
You'll train in dedicated construction workshops built for hands-on learning across the trades, led by teachers with real industry experience.
Construction workshops
spacious, well-equipped spaces for hands-on work across joinery, plastering, plumbing, bricklaying and painting and decorating.
Expert tutors
every session is led by tutors with real industry experience in the trade.
Strong links with local companies
real experience on live projects, and the chance to take part in national competitions.
Real Workshops · Five Trades · Industry-Experienced Tutors
Student Voice
“
I’ve gained loads of skills that’ll help me in life and in starting my career as a full-time painter and decorator. College has been a great experience—everyone’s treated equally, and the staff are really friendly and supportive. I’d definitely recommend it.
For Parents & Carers
Supporting Your Child's Journey
GCSE Support Built In
If your child needs to resit GCSE English or Maths, it's built into the timetable — not bolted on as an extra. They'll get structured support alongside their main course.
About student supportReal Career Prospects
These qualifications lead to real jobs. Our courses are built around the skills that employers are actually hiring for — locally and nationally.
See career optionsLearning Support
If your child has additional learning needs, our support team works with them from day one. Adjustments are put in place early so they can get the most out of their course.
About learning support For Careers Advisers
Quick Reference Guide
Level
Entry Level 3
Duration
1 Year
Study Mode
Full-Time
Awarding Body
City and Guilds
Entry
No grades required
Assessment
Practical Assessment + Exams
Age
16+
Progression Routes
Route A: Entry 3 Multi-Skills → Level 1 (general or trade-specific) → Level 2 trade apprenticeship → Level 3 craft apprenticeship or skilled work
Ready to Try the Trades?
Applications for September 2026 are open. Apply online in 10 minutes.
Questions? Call free 0800 358 7575 or email dcinfocentre@don.ac.uk