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HRH Prince Charles awards Traditional Building Crafts Apprentices sponsored by ATL
In a special graduation ceremony on 11 February, HRH Prince Charles awarded two students sponsored by ATL, the UK’s leading provider of trade skills training their NVQ Level 3 in Heritage Skills. Patrick McManus and Kieran Wint were two out of ten young Traditional Building Craftsmen who were specially selected for The Prince of Wales’s Building Crafts Apprentices Programme and have now completed their training and received an NVQ Level 3 in Heritage Skills, which bridges the gap between basic qualifications and becoming a master craftsperson.
Over an eight-month period, both apprentices worked on a number of cultural heritage sites including Windsor Castle, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Woodchester Mansion and Poundbury where they helped build the youth pavilion during their placement.
Patrick McManus, 24, who obtained his NVQ Level 3 as a Stonemason said, “I have learned whole new methods and techniques of working different types of stone. Every second of the placement has been enjoyable and educational.” Patrick intends to return to his hometown of Penrith and set up his own business as a self-employed stonemason.
Kieran Wint, 26 from Staffordshire, not only achieved his Site Carpenter NVQ Level 3 but was presented with a special award by HRH Prince Charles - The Hancock’s award, which was awarded to the apprentice for their outstanding achievement and exceptional progress throughout their placements on the programme. He said, “I have gained a wealth of knowledge. There were many new skills learned during these placements, some to elaborate on or hone up skills I already had, and others were totally new to me.”
ATL’s Managing Director, Nick Hayward, whose Southampton based training firm generously sponsored the two young men said “It was an honour to watch our apprentices graduate and being presented with their NVQ 3 in Heritage Skills by Prince Charles. People often forget about the importance of traditional skills such as Stonemasonry and Site Carpentry.
HRH, The Prince Of Wales said during his speech “The Apprentice Programme simply couldn’t exist without the extremely generous contribution of the placement providers and indeed the mentors. Providing opportunities for our apprentices to have that valuable experience, in practice, to hone their skills on both heritage and new build properties, is utterly invaluable.”
