Jobs for All Souls Bolton apprentice masons

Historic building conservation and restoration company Lambert Walker has announced that the three young people who undertook stone masonry placements on the All Souls Bolton project have been offered year long apprenticeships with the firm.

With the completion of All Souls Bolton due in the next few weeks, Lambert Walker were so impressed with the work that of Adam Mala, Adam Royston and Jake Quinton that they offered them an opportunity to further their career in stone masonry, and all three have gladly accepted apprenticeships with the company.

All Souls Bolton has been an extraordinary project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and in the making for 10 years. In early December, the newly regenerated church will be open to the public, who will once again be able to enjoy it as a community asset for learning, business and heritage.

A major success of the project has been the accompanying training, outreach and education scheme to promote craft skills. As the project’s conservation and restoration specialists, Lambert Walker took on six bursary placements for a three month period, with funding from the National Heritage Training Group.

The placement participants were all recruited from the local area, taking up the positions in heritage glazing, roofing and masonry. Initially, Lambert Walker had indicated that one apprenticeship might be offered, but with the contract end date just a few weeks away, they have decided to offer all three of those who undertook stone masonry placements the opportunity to develop their career further.

Regeneration Officer Rachel Barrett said: “We are delighted that the masonry bursary placement participants have been offered ongoing apprenticeships. This is a not just a credit to Adam, Adam and Jake - who have proven they are worthy of this opportunity - but also to the work of the excellent mentors from Lambert Walker, who have offered them such fantastic support during their placements”.

Alan Walker, Director of Lambert Walker said: “All three of these trainees more than lived up my expectations in terms of attitude and ability. For me, this project’s been about giving a chance to three individual young men who really deserve it. We wish apprentices the very best of luck in their future career.”

The Churches Conservation Trust believes that on-site, practical training is effective and priceless, and the case study of what has been achieved at All Souls, with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund, proves this. By providing the opportunities for high quality training on this project, we have contributed to creating a sustainable animated workforce for the future of our heritage.

The Churches Conservation Trust is now working to include more craft skills training as an essential part of our future projects.