Apprenticeship - Join our Highways Team- CMB1839e

Salary: From September 2025 - £7.55 per hour - £279.35 per week - National Apprenticeship Wage - during first 12 months. (If 19 years old or over, after 12 months your salary will increase to minimum wage for your age)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Apprenticeship

Start Date: From September 2025 onwards

Apprenticeship Duration: typically 24 months

About This Opportunity

Do you want to pursue a career as a Stonemason? Do you want to achieve a nationally recognised qualification and benefit from on-the-job work experience? Then an apprenticeship with Cumberland Council could be for you! This is an excellent opportunity offering a wide range of transferable skills. The Stonemason Apprenticeship with Cumberland Council offers high-quality training and development, personalised support from managers and mentors, and the chance to work alongside experienced staff. You will gain both job-specific and transferable skills that will help build a solid foundation for your future career.

What You Will Do

As a Stonemason Apprentice, your duties will include:

• Assisting with carrying out specialist, skilled work to exacting tolerances following drawings, designs and given specifications against an established programme of work.
• Assisting with the installation of new natural sustainable and ethically sourced stone or conserve, repair or replace existing natural stone on bridges, buildings and/or landscape projects where stonework is a key feature within the project, including walls, steps, copings, water features, bespoke stone features and paved areas.

If this sounds like you, then please get in touch!

How to apply: Please complete the online application form and read all the Supporting Information including the Apprenticeship Description carefully to help you complete your application. Ensure you have answered the three questions telling us why you’re interested and how you have or would develop the essential skills, qualities and behaviours and give examples. List all your qualifications, including any predicted exam grades. If you have any additional information you’d like to provide to support your application, for example a copy of your CV or a covering letter, please upload with your application form.

Eligibility Checks: Training providers will carry out eligibility checks. Some of the details you have included in your application form i.e. name; date of birth; home address; email address; telephone/mobile number and qualifications will be shared with commissioned apprenticeship training providers for the purpose of the recruitment, training and management of the apprenticeship programme.

We believe in cultivating potential over perfection. If this apprenticeship sounds like you and you resonate with our values, we encourage you to apply or contact earlycareersandapprenticeships@cumberland.gov.uk for an informal chat prior to your application.

About us

Cumberland Council is an ambitious and forward-thinking authority dedicated to shaping a better future for our communities. We are passionate about creating a vibrant future by addressing inequalities, creating thriving economies that work for our residents and protecting our environment. At the core of our vision is a commitment to our people, with health and well-being being integral to everything we do, underscoring every initiative and ensuring we provide unparalleled support for all.

We can’t do it without you! Come and embark on the journey to a vibrant future with us, where the work you do will make a real impact. Together, let's shape a community that’s as dynamic and inclusive as our landscape. Be a part of the transformation!

Cumberland Council Staff Benefits

• Pension: Opportunity to join a generous defined benefit pension scheme to secure your future (most employees are part of the Local Government Pension Scheme).
• Holidays: 25 days holiday per year when you start, rising to 31 days holiday per year after 5 years of service, plus 8 public holidays. The option to purchase up to 2 weeks additional leave and spread the cost over 12 months.
• Flexible Working: Flexible working arrangements including the ability to work remotely from home supporting a culture that fits around you (subject to the demands and requirements of the specific role).
• Deals and Discounts: Money off your local gym including Better, Newfield Health, The Gym Group and Lifestyle Fitness. Various discount schemes including RAC roadside recovery discount and money off local supportive businesses.
• Tusker car leasing salary sacrifice scheme as well as an esteem car loan scheme for essential car users.
• Free flu jabs in winter from participating pharmacies.
• Employee Assistance & Support: In-house staff support networks and employee assistance programme offering mental health support. Access to in-house Occupational Health service including physio treatment.

We welcome applications from everyone. At Cumberland Council, we are dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce, striving to mirror the rich tapestry of the communities we proudly serve. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are devoted to fostering an inclusive, supportive culture that embraces and appreciates our unique differences.

As a proud Disability Confident Employer, we ensure that applicants with disabilities, meeting the essential criteria for this position, are guaranteed an interview as part of our commitment to equal opportunities. Your diverse perspectives and talents contribute to our collective success.

We’re also an Age Friendly Employer, meaning we commit to providing an inclusive workplace for people in their 50s and 60s and taking the necessary action to help them flourish in a multigenerational workforce. We recognise the importance of mature workers and aim to provide an environment on which they can thrive.

Reasonable Adjustments: We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace. If you require any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know at Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. Adjustments are not always guaranteed although we will endeavour to make adjustments that are reasonable to accommodate your needs.

Guaranteed Interview Schemes: Cumberland Council offers a guaranteed interview scheme to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role:

• Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
• Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and under.
• Armed forces veterans whose last long term substantive employer was the armed forces.

If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application.

Work-Life balance: Cumberland Council is deeply invested in fostering a work culture that prioritises the well-being and balance of our team members. Embracing flexible and hybrid working models, we empower employees to achieve optimal work-life balance. Recognising the importance of personal time, we offer a generous holiday allowance, providing ample opportunity for rest and rejuvenation. Additionally, our flexible working hours, including flexitime arrangements, further contribute to a supportive environment where individuals can effectively manage their professional and personal commitments.

Continuing Professional Development: We are committed to nurturing the ongoing growth and professional advancement of our valued team members to fulfil your potential and advance your career. Our comprehensive career development and training offer emphasises continuous learning as a cornerstone for achieving both individual and organisational goals. Through our robust Organisational Development initiatives, we offer a suite of support programmes tailored to meet diverse needs, including participation in our esteemed Aspiring to be a Manager programme and access to our enriching Coaching and Mentoring programmes.

Keeping the people we work with safe: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and expect unwavering commitment to this cause from our employees, volunteers, and the Externally Provided Workforce (EPWs). Together, we create a secure environment where every individual is safeguarded and respected.

Your Voice Matters; Connect, Engage, and Make Your Voice Heard! We don’t just encourage engagement—we celebrate it. That’s why we’ve cultivated a vibrant community of staff networking groups where every voice matters. These groups are more than just forums—they’re hubs of innovation and inclusion, dedicated to sparking fresh ideas, challenging the status quo, and championing equality and fairness for all. From exploring new perspectives to shaping policies that reflect our diverse workforce, our staff networks play a pivotal role in driving positive change. Join us and become part of something bigger: Race Equality Rainbow Alliance, Menopause Support, Carers Network, Shine Community, Wellbeing/Health Advocates. Be a Change Champion to shape our council’s future through transformative initiatives.

Please read the supporting information: Apprenticeship Description Apprenticeship Standard: Stonemason / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.