College Bricklaying Lecturer Cements his Achievement

City College Plymouth’s Head of Academy for Construction, Peter Elmes is celebrating his inauguration as President of the Guild of Bricklayers.

Peter has had many successes and achievements during his journey to becoming President - including being chosen to champion and lead the application for the new diploma in construction and the built environment.

His career started in 1969 when he joined Garrett’s straight out of school at 16 - where he completed a four year indentured Apprenticeship in bricklaying. He joined the College in 1989 as a bricklaying lecturer and after a promotion became the co-ordinator of a project to build five bungalows during the recession to enable unemployed youngsters to gain National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).

Peter said: “What a great honour and not a bad achievement for a local boy from North Prospect!”

“I’d like to use my achievements over the years to encourage young people of what they can accomplish given a bit of hard work and determination.”

The Guild of Bricklayers was founded in 1932 with the aims of promoting and maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship in brickwork.

All its Journeymen and Master Members have served an apprenticeship, have obtained their Institute's qualifications and are practising bricklayers, building supervisors, managers, clerk of works, technical college lecturers or instructors.