Chris Berridge Stonemason Level 2 and 3 in Banker Masonry at Bath College, Avon, WorldSkills 2011 Gold medal winner – Stonemasonry
Even at the age of 15, the idea of working inside didn’t appeal to Chris Berridge. To try his hand at something more unusual, Chris approached stonemasons, Harvey Stone, for a work experience placement. They were impressed enough by his abilities to keep him on as an apprentice. ‘My City & Guilds qualifications
have given me a lot of confidence to conserve buildings,’ says Chris. ‘Conservation is a cheaper alternative to replacing and rebuilding, and I’ve seen that historic buildings always need restoration – so we still have work to do despite the decline in money being spent on individually commissioned bits of stonemasonry.’ Chris feels that his qualifications will stand him in good stead for the rest of his career. ‘City & Guilds has a big reputation – it’s a well-known brand in stonemasonry, and in this industry people really appreciate qualifications. It’s a mark of professionalism.’ Chris’s efforts were rewarded in 2011 when he was awarded joint first place in the stonemasonry category at WorldSkills London. So what’s next for Chris? ‘In the next five years I may do some work abroad, maybe Canada, or even start up my own company.’