Alistair Hardaker
Image: Cadw stonemasons and Minister for Culture and Skills Jack Sargeant
Welsh Government’s historic environment service recruits three trainees for NVQ3 qualification amid workforce concerns in conservation sector.
Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, is recruiting three trainee stonemasons for a two-year training programme, hoping to offset the heritage sector’s growing traditional skills shortage.
The trainees will work alongside Cadw’s in-house professional heritage skills team, Cadwraeth Cymru, undertaking a dedicated training programme leading to an NVQ3, a work-based qualification roughly equivalent to A-levels, in Heritage Masonry.
They will gain hands-on experience whilst being mentored by expert conservation masons and will have opportunities to engage with the public and participate in events showcasing heritage skills.
The recruitment comes as roughly one third of Wales’s buildings are constructed from traditional materials, including solid stone, brick or pre-1919 timber framing. The sector is experiencing an increasing struggle to find craftspeople with the expertise to care for these buildings properly.
A key concern facing the heritage sector is an ageing workforce with too few opportunities for young people to enter these professions.
On Thursday, several Cadw stonemasons demonstrated their expertise to members of the public at St Fagans National Museum of History as part of a special day of culture.
Wales’ minister for culture and skills, Jack Sargeant said by investing, “we’re ensuring that future generations can continue to care for the distinctive buildings that give character and identity to our towns, villages and cities.”
Fleur Gordon, head of monument conservation at Cadw, said: “Caring for our many historic buildings and monuments in Wales requires dedication and expertise. By training the next generation of stonemasons and conservation specialists, we’re not just preserving buildings; we’re safeguarding the skills, knowledge and craftsmanship that have shaped our nation’s identity for centuries.
The closing date for applications is 27 November 2025. Details can be found by searching Work for Cadw.
