Specialist skills are essential to the installation, repair and conservation of natural stone, yet developing a qualified workforce requires more than learning on the job. Priestman Associates LLP works across training, assessment and construction skills development, helping employers build the expertise needed for stonework, façade preservation and heritage projects.

Formed by David and Mark Priestman, the Nottingham-based partnership brings more than 80 years of combined construction experience to its work. Its remit extends from stonemasonry and architectural stone fixing to façade cleaning, restoration, conservation and construction management. A central part of the business is helping workers gain formal recognition for skills acquired through experience, while providing routes for those entering specialist trades to develop their competence.

The partnership has an established connection with the natural stone sector. It is a member of Stone Federation GB and participates in the Natural Stone Industry Training Group, while Mark Priestman serves as the federation’s training officer. The company also contributes to the development of occupational qualifications through its work with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). This involvement links training provision with the practical requirements of the trades and the standards expected on site.

Its qualification offer covers a broad range of masonry occupations, including banker masonry, cutting, cladding and internal and external stone fixing. Heritage masonry and façade preservation are also included, alongside qualifications for site supervision and construction management. The aim is to provide a progression from operative-level skills to supervisory and management responsibilities, rather than treating training as a single step in a worker’s career.

One of the partnership’s key programmes is the CITB Specialist Applied-Skills Programme (SAP), for which Priestman Associates is a delivery provider for stone fixing and façade preservation. The programmes offer a structured route towards a Level 2 NVQ, combining off-site instruction with practical experience and workplace mentoring.

For eligible employees of CITB-registered businesses, the programmes are fee-neutral to employers through CITB funding and grants. Over 18 months, participants receive up to 17 days of off-site training in the relevant specialist skills, while continuing to work and develop their experience under the guidance of their employer. The programme also incorporates assessment of workplace evidence towards the relevant Level 2 NVQ.

The stone-fixing route covers internal applications, such as floors, walls and counters, as well as external architectural stonework. Training includes the practical application and blending of mortar, tool selection and safe working procedures. The façade-preservation route is intended for those involved in cleaning and restoring building exteriors, including stone, brick and concrete. Its content addresses cleaning equipment, water-jetting techniques, chemical use, surface protection and the need to avoid damage to the building fabric.

The distinction matters in a sector where the correct intervention depends on the material, its condition and the work specified. Cleaning or repairing a façade is not simply a matter of removing soiling or filling defects; the methods and materials selected must be appropriate to the surface and the building. Training helps establish the technical knowledge and safe working practices needed to make those decisions.

Alongside the longer programmes, Priestman Associates offers shorter, CITB grant-attracting courses through its status as an approved training organisation. Subjects include stone and brick repair, pointing and jointing, mortar preparation, substrates, and the safe operation of chemical and abrasive cleaning equipment. These provide opportunities for businesses to address particular skills gaps without committing employees to a longer qualification programme.

For employers, the combination of off-site training, workplace mentoring and formal assessment offers a way to develop existing staff while keeping their learning connected to the work they undertake. For the wider stone industry, it supports the transmission of specialist knowledge at a time when the care, repair and installation of stone depend on people who understand both the material and the methods required to work with it.

To enquire about the fee-neutral Specialist Applied-Skills Programmes, contact Mark Priestman at office@priestmanweb.com or call 07876 687212.