After growing up on building sites alongside his Dad, Daniel knew he wanted a course that prioritises hands-on learning. He found an apprenticeship with Pyramid, one of the biggest Bricklaying subcontractors in London, and fell in love with the structure almost immediately. Daniel found his time at East Surrey College very beneficial for his apprenticeship, as his tutors support and the excellent Bricklaying facilities helped him finish his course earlier than expected.
Why did you choose an Apprenticeship?
Sitting in a classroom all day didn’t appeal to me as I’m very hands-on. Luckily, my Dad works in construction and I often accompanied him on my days off from school. Therefore, I felt like an apprenticeship was a great idea, so I could be able to learn on the job whilst also learning at college. I have always been keen on bricklaying, so when I heard East Surrey College taught it, I knew that it was for me.
Can you tell us a bit about your Apprenticeship?
I started my apprenticeship with Pyramid in October 2024, and the experience I received from them and the college meant I was able to finish my apprenticeship in just over a year.
I found the Apprenticeship through my Dad’s connections in the industry, as he knew a director at Pyramid who are of the biggest bricklaying subcontractors in London. After a few phone calls they were as keen as I was for me to get started.
What did your apprenticeship involve?
My apprenticeship involved learning the bricklaying trade day by day and all the skills needed on site, as well as lessons at college. Throughout my apprenticeship I was learning from very experienced people and have taken that knowledge to improve myself.
What did you enjoy most about your apprenticeship?
There were many exciting projects that I was able to work on, such as the new Elephant and Castle town centre, laying blue brick on HS2 projects and many more.
When I first started my apprenticeship I was surprised by things I had never seen before, like the scale of the building sites and the health and safety required to get onto the building sites, including full day inductions.
How does the experience you are getting at work help you with your coursework/studies at College?
The combination of working on site and going to college once a week really helped me to get used to bricklaying, especially as I was able to practice at college. This structure meant everyone felt very comfortable and confident for their final assessment.
What do you think of the course at ESC?
I was pleasantly surprised by the support from my teachers and tutors at college. They really looked after me and made sure I was on track with my apprenticeship. My tutor Tony was great with his communication to me and my company was really good.
The bricklaying facilities were perfect: the sheds were tidy; they had big heaters so it was always warm in the winter and the cutting and mixing stations were ideal. As for the tools and equipment, there was always plenty, no one had to wait around for their turn and everything was always kept in good condition.
What advice would you give to students considering an Apprenticeship?
For students who feel they want more hands-on learning and maybe find it hard to concentrate in classrooms like me, an apprenticeship is the best thing out there. As long as you are willing to work hard, listen and turn up every day, an apprenticeship is a great opportunity.
What are your future plans? University? Career aspiration?
After completing my apprenticeship I’m looking to go straight onto my level 4, as Pyramid have plans to make me one of their youngest foremen/supervisor this would be a great opportunity and experience at a young age to have a feel of what it’s like to run my own jobs for the company and be in charge of a lot of people.
View our Bricklaying and Construction courses here.
