MacAuley Fawcett, who is employed as a mason by Heritage Consolidation said: “I think the main thing for me was actually having to complete certain specific task for the NVQ, having that list of stuff I needed helped me build more confidence in the work I did, in the past before I started the NVQ I would easily take a back roll when I came to setting out stuff like stonemasonry structures and let the more experienced workers take charge and then just help out with the building once it is set away but as I needed to do it for my NVQ I have since started to take charge and have confidence in myself and my work especially when it comes to setting all sorts of different walls and structures out to lead the way. Other things for example which were in the NVQ were props and struts which we use a lot of in our job especially for propping stone work when doing stuff like new lintels above doors and windows and again before the NVQ I would take a back roll and help someone else to set the props to ensure it was safe to fit the new lintel whereas now I am confident in taking it on myself to prop the stonework and to fit a new lintel without having to worry about stonework above dropping. Gary ( NVQ assessor) also help me to look at the job in more detail when on one of his visits to a church we were doing work, I was worried I wasn’t going to have a job where I could build a buttress which was needed for my NVQ and after looking at the job in a different way he made me realise that actually the wall I was building was acting as a supporting buttress so his knowledge and experience help me to look at the job in a different way for the future. So, the main thing for me is that it has helped to give me confidence and a lot more experience in the work that I do I would say that is the big thing I can take away and it has helped massively with my career in being a stonemason”.