Coalville-based housebuilders Barratt Homes has launched a recruitment drive to hire more bricklayers across Leicestershire.

With the chance to start immediately, the opportunity is open to brickies from any background in the industry with past experience and a Level 2 NVQ.

The new recruits will work at sites across Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Warwickshire.

In joining the UK's largest housebuilder, Barrett says trained bricklayers can continue to develop their skills on the job and learn from the best in the industry, whilst opening the door to a wide range of career opportunities.

A demand for housing during the pandemic has meant the requirement to build new homes is huge.

But Barrett adds, task of gaining interest from youngsters could prove challenging for the industry, as research carried out by L&Q revealed that fewer than one in 10 young people would consider a career in construction.

With this in mind, the homebuilder places great emphasis on the importance of its apprenticeships, whilst also creating new roles for more skilled workers.

Mike Attfield (53), Build Manager at Barratt Homes, joined the housebuilder 30 years ago as an Apprentice Joiner and has not looked back since.

He said: "We now expect more from our tradespeople onsite and, with modern houses having more detailed designs, our bricklayers have the chance to develop a more skilled and technical approach.

"As a company we are very diverse in our outlook and we have both male and female Site Managers leading on multiple sites.

"Everyone works as one in a team with the shared goal to build each house to its best standard, to provide a home our customers can be proud of."

Members of Barratt Homes' construction workers, like Mike, are with the housebuilder for long periods of time due to the career opportunities that present themselves and the support offered along the way.

Bricklayers will earn the chance to go into site management as they progress and each site is judged for an NHBC Pride in the Job award, which provides opportunities to contribute to a prized community.

Mike added: "We operate throughout the year, have a large amount of developments and plenty of new sites are starting as others complete.

"It's a well organised company run by excellent site teams with high standards of health and safety.

"As with all of our employees, bricklayers are very valued members of the team as they start the journey for the development, the customer and each new community that takes shape."

Someone who has reaped the benefits of a career in bricklaying with Barratt Homes is James Bagworth, 19, who is coming to the end of his apprenticeship having first joined the housebuilder in September, 2019.

He said: "After completing my GCSEs, I didn't think construction was for me but a few friends in the industry recommended bricklaying to me so I thought I'd try it. It's been the best choice of my career so far.

"Since joining Barratt Homes, I've valued the constant advice from my site manager the most. Not just in terms of construction, but general guidance and direction with a number of matters outside of work.

"It's a great time to become a bricklayer. Many people will have been saving up to buy houses over the past year and once restrictions ease fully, the demand is going to be even greater so trades will be required massively."

With the property market booming since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been greater demand for roles in bricklaying, as well as construction as a whole.

Eve Livett, Chief Executive Officer at the Association of Brickwork Contractors, said: "The universal demand for well skilled operatives is high overall in construction at the moment, and with brick being the most popular choice for homes in the UK, the demand for highly skilled bricklayers is of course strong.

"Modern masonry techniques have pushed the boundaries of brick designs and new legislations have made the role of the bricklayer more accountable, so it has never been more important for the industry to encourage new entrants into the sector and for employers to invest in their bricklayers with training and development so that quality of workmanship is kept to a high standard."

Barratt Homes has also launched a Recommend a Friend scheme as part of its creation of new roles.

Those who recommend a bricklayer who later joins and completes two months with the housebuilder can receive a £100 voucher*.

Barratt Homes has a range of developments in Leicestershire including Grange View in Hugglescote.

For further information about the roles available or to apply for one of the vacancies with Barratt Homes, call Stuart Parker on 0115 900 7570 or contact [email protected].