MEET bricklayer Morgan Simmons – the Barnsley College apprentice who is shattering stereotypes and cementing her place as a rising star.
She has been lauded as one of the top bricklayers in the country after placing highly in a major competition – where she was the only female competitor.
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Morgan, currently studying a Bricklayer Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard, came third in her category at the Guild of Bricklayers 2024 Yorkshire Regional Heat.
The Guild, formed in 1932, runs the competition annually to find the UK’s best young bricklayer, with Yorkshire’s leg taking place at Bishop Burton College, near Beverley, Hull.
Morgan was entered into the junior category in the competition – the middle of three categories based on the competitors’ experience level, between novices and seniors.
In a technical challenge, she was tasked with building a double skinned, 13-course high five-brick wall with a two-brick return pillar – using soldiers, projecting bricks and differently coloured bricks to create decorative features, keeping to strict measurements dictated by the judges.
She said: “I really enjoyed taking part in the competition and I think it has helped me develop skills and knowledge for my career in the future.
“At first I was nervous, seeing so many other competitors there, but soon I realised I was just happy to be there – and this is just what I do for a living!
“My tutor Sean has been helping me practise my decorative brickwork as that’s what the competition was all about. So, I felt pretty prepared.
“There were many talented bricklayers there so I’m just happy I placed and had a chance to take part – especially being the only girl there!”
Morgan is currently working with Persimmon Homes on a site for new-build houses – saying she loves building houses ‘someone will one day call a home’.
Once qualified and after ‘some good years of grafting’, she is hoping to work abroad for a few years.
“As a girl in the bricklaying industry, I do believe it’s an amazing career,” she added.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a job for the weak! So I understand why it’s male-dominated – the rain, the cold weather, then the heat waves, and the constant heavy lifting…
“However, with determination and a strong mind, you can do anything you set your mind to.
“My favourite part of my job is definitely the feeling of creating something out of nothing, looking back and seeing the projects you’ve built coming together.”
The Guild of Bricklayers said: “This venerable event not only celebrates the rich heritage of bricklaying but also sets the stage for emerging talents to showcase their skills, vying for the coveted title of the UK’s top junior bricklayer.”
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