Ibstock Plc industry masterclasses and factory tour inspire Walsall College’s student bricklayers

‘Know your brick’ was the theme of a quality and technical masterclass hosted by Ibstock Plc to Walsall College students.

Helen Bradley, Group Quality Assurance Manager and Daniel Wells, Customer Quality Manager delivered sessions to Level 2 bricklaying students exploring procedures and guidance around good site practice and workmanship, specifically around brick procurement, storage and usage.

They looked at the characteristics and properties of bricks and how these can affect long-term performance and usage.  Students were also taken through the site reference panel (SRP) process for quality control and benchmarking, as well as broader brickwork standards, guidelines and testing methods.

The workshop followed on from a site tour of Ibstock’s Atlas Brick Factory in Walsall which has recently undergone a significant investment to redevelop the old factory facility. At the new Atlas facility, they enjoyed a factory tour described as ‘Quarry to Lorry’ which followed the journey of a brick, from being excavated onsite to being packed ready for delivery, with the various manufacturing processes involved in this process.

A classroom session also took place where students received an overview of Ibstock Plc, discussed how clay bricks work best in construction and took part in group activities.

Student, Tyler Blewitt was one of the students who attended the events.

“The masterclass added to what we’ve learnt so far and was a chance to explore procedures in more detail,” he said.

“I found the factory tour and masterclass interesting.  I want to be a site manager in future, so I like that I’m already thinking more carefully about the bricks I use in a ‘from start to finish’ kind of way.”

Student, Jack Wright appreciated seeing an alternative side to the industry at the Atlas Brick Factory.

He said: “I never imagined just how much went on in a place like this.  Learning how bricks are made, including carbon neutral ones was amazing.  It felt like seeing into the future and understanding how I will be part of it once I start working onsite.”

In September 2025, Ibstock Plc launched the Ibstock Academy in partnership with Walsall College as a way of supporting student bricklayers’ training and development in a wider industry context, incorporating the pace, high quality standards, and safety expectations of construction.

The partnership aligned to the Home Builders Federation’s (HBF) Partner a College programme along with local house builder, Keon Homes, will help ensure students gain the practical, job-ready skills the industry needs.

Cheryl Brown, Head of Corporate Affairs & Social Impact at Ibstock Plc said: “The Ibstock Academy approach enables us to support the next generation of construction talent and helps to get building the safe, resilient, high-quality homes the country needs.

“We are delighted with how the Academy is progressing since its launch in September 2025. It’s also a chance to engage with communities near our manufacturing sites – offering practical guidance on careers in the built environment.’’

Read more about The Ibstock Academy here.