Yes. This is a competence-based NVQ assessed through workplace evidence.

Do I need to be employed?

You need a suitable workplace role (employed or otherwise) where you can generate the required evidence.

Construction Trades and Building Envelope

Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Stonemasonry (Construction)—Memorial Masonry

Work-based competence qualification for memorial masons who produce, letter, repair and re-fix memorials and their supporting structures.

Overview

This qualification confirms occupational competence in memorial masonry: the specialist branch of stonemasonry concerned with headstones, ledgers, kerb sets, plaques, monuments and other commemorative stonework. It sits within a wider stonemasonry qualification that recognises several distinct stone trades, and the memorial masonry pathway is the route intended for masons whose daily work is the production, lettering, repair and re-fixing of memorials rather than architectural or structural stonework.

The occupational focus is deliberately narrow and practical. Candidates work with limestone, sandstone, granite, marble and slate; produce templates, moulds and reverses; cut complex shapes, recessed panels, and plain, chamfered and profiled edges; and produce lettering and enrichment by hand-cut, incised, hand-carved, raised and inlaid lead methods, alongside the use of computer imaging and vinyl sheeting to reproduce design layouts. The same candidate must also be able to work on existing memorials — dismantling, cleaning, repairing, re-lettering, re-fixing and reinstating foundations and supporting structures.

Because much memorial work takes place in cemeteries, churchyards and other burial grounds, the qualification also recognises the conditions that distinguish this trade from other stonework: the handling and lifting of heavy monumental stone in confined and uneven ground conditions, the requirements attached to consecrated and non-consecrated ground and to structures of special historical interest, and the protocols expected when working in the presence of the bereaved and the general public.

Assessment is based on evidence drawn from genuine commercial work. Nothing is awarded on the strength of classroom study alone, which is what gives the qualification its value: for the mason it provides recognised confirmation of skills already used every day, and for the employer it provides independent, standards-based evidence that a member of the workforce can produce and maintain memorials safely and to specification. Approved structures currently in use are closely aligned, with the same core competence areas required in each; the wider stonemasonry qualification offers other pathways, but not every approved version makes every pathway available.

Qualification structures, unit wording and assessment requirements may vary slightly depending on the approved awarding organisation.

Who It's For

The qualification is designed for people already working in memorial masonry who need formal recognition of advanced craft competence. It assumes a mason who can work from drawings, schedules and customer requirements with limited supervision, who takes responsibility for sequencing their own work, selecting resources and confirming the method of work, and who can judge when a job calls for specialist skills beyond their own and report accordingly. It is not an introduction to stonemasonry, and it cannot be completed by someone without regular access to memorial work.

Memorial masons in workshop and yard settings

Suited to masons who cut, shape, letter and finish memorial stone at the banker or in the workshop, including those who set out designs, produce templates, moulds and reverses, and carry out lettering and carving to customer specifications.

Masons carrying out cemetery and churchyard work

Relevant to those who transport, lift, position and fix memorials on site, prepare and reinstate foundations and supporting structures, and clean, repair and re-fix existing memorial stones and plaques in burial grounds.

Employment and workplace arrangements

Employment with a memorial masonry business is the most common arrangement, but self-employment or a subcontract arrangement can also be suitable, provided the candidate has continuing access to genuine commissions, the necessary tools, lifting and access equipment, and an employer or client willing to allow observation and the collection of evidence.

Pathway and Occupational Specialism

Memorial masonry is one of the recognised occupational pathways within the wider stonemasonry qualification. Each pathway shares a common set of workplace competence areas and then adds the technical units specific to that trade, so the pathway a candidate follows determines the practical work they must evidence. Availability differs between approved versions: some approved structures offer several pathways, while others currently offer memorial masonry only.

Memorial masonry

This is the pathway covered by this qualification. It is distinguished by two things: the production of complex memorials, including lettering, carving and enrichment on monumental stone; and the repair, maintenance and re-fixing of existing memorials, including foundations and supporting structures. Working protocols relating to the bereaved, to consecrated and non-consecrated ground, and to memorials of historical or environmental significance form part of the required knowledge.

How it differs from other stonemasonry pathways

Other pathways within the wider qualification recognise different stone occupations, such as workshop production of architectural stonemasonry components, the setting out and erection of stonemasonry structures on site, and the fixing of handset stone cladding to background structures. Those are separate specialisms with their own required units; achieving the memorial masonry pathway does not confer competence in them, and they are not available through every approved version.

Workplace Requirements

Memorial masonry competence cannot be demonstrated without live commissions, because the qualification is assessed on the finished work and on the way it is planned, produced and installed. Candidates need continuing access to a real working environment with the materials, tools and permissions that memorial work requires.

Typical requirements include:

A workshop, yard or banker area where memorial stone can be measured, marked out, cut, shaped and lettered
Access to memorial stone types used commercially, such as granite, marble, limestone, sandstone and slate
Hand tools, power tools, ancillary and safety equipment, and — where used by the business — computer imaging equipment and vinyl sheeting for design layout
Lifting equipment, access equipment and safe means of transporting monumental stone
Live repair and maintenance work, including plaques and ground-erected memorials, so that the repair competence can be evidenced as well as new production
Access to burial ground or cemetery work where fixing, re-fixing or reinstatement of foundations and supporting structures is carried out, subject to the permissions of the burial authority or landowner
Contract information such as drawings, specifications, schedules, customer requirements, method statements and risk assessments

Training-centre practice may be used to develop skills, but it does not replace evidence generated from genuine commercial memorial work.

Learning Outcomes

The outcomes below describe what a mason who has achieved this qualification can be relied upon to do in the course of memorial work. They are drawn from the competence and knowledge requirements of the required units.

Interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, codes of practice, customer requirements, method statements, risk assessments and manufacturers' information relating to memorial work
Plan the sequence of their own work, confirm the method of work and identify where resources or information are inadequate
Select and check memorial stone, fittings, fixings, materials and consumables against the specification, and calculate quantities and wastage
Produce templates, moulds and reverses, and set out designs, including by computer imaging onto vinyl sheeting where this method is used
Cut and prepare memorial masonry to produce complex shapes, recessed panels, holes and plain, chamfered or profiled edges
Produce lettering and enrichment by hand-cut, incised, carved, raised and inlaid lead methods, and apply appropriate surface finishes
Arrange and carry out the safe lifting, transport and positioning of monumental stone
Prepare, repair and reinstate foundations and supporting structures for ground-erected memorials
Repair, clean, polish and re-fix existing memorials, plaques, design features and lettering
Use and maintain hand tools, power tools, ancillary, access and safety equipment
Apply health, safety and welfare controls, including collective protective measures, PPE, RPE and local exhaust ventilation, and respond appropriately to incidents and emergencies
Protect completed work and the surrounding area, keep the work space clear, and dispose of waste in line with environmental and legal requirements
Work in accordance with the requirements attached to consecrated and non-consecrated ground and to structures of special interest, and observe the protocols expected around the bereaved and the public
Communicate effectively with colleagues, employers, customers, suppliers and other occupations, and report problems to the person with authority to resolve them
Recognise the limits of their own competence and report where specialist skills or knowledge are required

Units

The structure is built from a set of workplace competence units shared with other stonemasonry pathways, combined with the two technical units that define memorial masonry. In the approved structures currently in use, all of these units are mandatory and there is no optional group to select from — a candidate must complete every unit listed below. Some approved structures also list an additional, non-compulsory unit relating to slinging and signalling the movement of suspended loads, endorsed for memorial masonry; where offered, this is supplementary and is not required to complete the qualification.

Complying with workplace inductions, safety briefings, statutory requirements, safety notices and warning signs
Using health and safety control equipment correctly, including collective protective measures, PPE, RPE and local exhaust ventilation
Applying control measures identified by risk assessments and safe systems of work
Recognising and reporting hazards created by changing circumstances, including those arising from materials, substances, equipment, obstructions, storage and services
Knowledge of the principal health and safety risks recognised across the construction sector
Contributing to welfare facilities, storing control equipment safely and disposing of waste and consumables lawfully
Responding to accidents and emergencies, including evacuation, fire risks and the correct use of fire extinguishers
Supporting security arrangements during and at the end of the working day, including arrangements covering the public and unauthorised access

Identifying work activities, assessing required resources and planning the sequence of work
Preparing a work programme from the available information
Seeking clarification and advice where required resources are unavailable, and identifying suitable alternatives
Assessing progress against project requirements, taking account of other occupations, customers, resources, weather conditions and health and safety requirements
Determining which activities influence each other and how long each will take
Making best use of available tools, plant, ancillary equipment, materials and components
Understanding zero and low carbon requirements and how resource choices affect them
Identifying changed circumstances, informing line management or customers, and justifying alterations to the work programme

Interpreting and extracting information from drawings, specifications, schedules, manufacturers' information, methods of work, risk assessments and programmes
Summarising quantities, specifications, detailed drawings, health and safety requirements, timescales and scope of works
Obtaining additional information from customers, suppliers, regulatory authorities and manufacturers' literature where project data is insufficient
Examining potential work methods against technical criteria such as access and egress, equipment availability, workforce competence, pollution risk, waste and disposal, and weather conditions
Testing work methods against project criteria including statutory requirements, customer needs, contract time, quantity and quality, and environmental considerations
Confirming the selected method and communicating it to the people who need to act on it

Giving advice and information to relevant people about the work activities involved
Applying the principles of equality and diversity when working and communicating with others
Communicating timescales, health and safety requirements and work co-ordination in line with organisational procedures
Judging the level of detail expected by colleagues, employers, customers, contractors, suppliers and others affected by the work
Encouraging questions, requests for clarification and comments, and offering help on progress, results, occupational problems and opportunities
Clarifying proposals and discussing alternative suggestions with relevant people
Resolving differences of opinion in ways that minimise offence and maintain goodwill and trust

Interpreting drawings, specifications, schedules, codes of practice, customer requirements, method statements, risk assessments and manufacturers' information, and complying with the instructions they contain
Reporting and rectifying inappropriate information or unsuitable resources through organisational procedures
Understanding responsibilities for accidents, incidents, health hazards and the environment when working below ground level, in confined spaces, at height, with tools and equipment, and when moving or storing materials by manual handling or mechanical lifting
Selecting and checking resources including limestone, sandstone, granite, marble and slate, templates, moulds and reverses, fittings and fixings, hand and power tools, lifting, ancillary and safety equipment, and computer imaging equipment and vinyl sheeting
Calculating quantity, length, area, volume and wastage for the chosen method of production
Measuring, marking out, designing, drawing, cutting, drilling, shaping, positioning and securing memorial stone
Producing templates, moulds and reverses to working instructions
Working stone to complex shapes and enriched profiles, forming holes and recessed panels, and producing plain, chamfered and profiled edges
Producing hand-cut lettering, hand carving, complex incised lettering, and raised and inlaid lead lettering
Using computer imaging to reproduce design layouts on vinyl sheeting and producing the required surface finishes
Arranging the lifting of memorial masonry to working instructions and working safely with and around plant and machinery
Working at height and using access equipment where the task requires it
Protecting the work and surrounding area, maintaining a tidy work space and disposing of waste in line with current legislation
Completing the work within the agreed time and reporting circumstances that will affect the programme
Understanding the requirements attached to consecrated and non-consecrated ground, structures of special interest and memorials of historical or environmental significance
Observing the protocols relating to the bereaved and the public, and determining when specialist skills and knowledge must be reported
Maintaining the tools and equipment used, and communicating with other occupations involved in the work

Interpreting drawings, specifications, schedules, method statements, risk assessments, codes of practice, customer requirements and manufacturers' information for repair and maintenance work
Selecting and checking resources including natural stone components, ground anchors and fixings, aggregates, sand, lime, cement, additives, resins, colourings, sealants and adhesives, lettering finishes, cleaning and polishing agents, and hand tools, power tools, mechanical lifting, ancillary and safety equipment
Measuring, marking out, dismantling, shaping, fitting, positioning, securing and finishing memorial stonework
Preparing foundations and supporting structures to working instructions, and reinstating them on completion
Repairing and maintaining mounted plaques, ground-erected memorial stones, and existing stones, design features and lettering
Marking out and cutting additional design features and lettering to match existing work
Removing and re-fixing memorial plaques and ground-erected memorial masonry
Cleaning and polishing stone surfaces, mixing concrete, mortars and epoxies, and repairing damaged stones
Transporting, lifting and positioning memorials safely and securely
Using health and safety control equipment, including collective protective measures, PPE, RPE and local exhaust ventilation, and responding to fires, spillages, injuries, near misses and evacuations
Calculating quantity, length, area, volume and wastage for the repair method chosen
Protecting the work and its surroundings from damage, including from adverse weather and the activities of others, and disposing of waste lawfully
Completing work within the allocated time and complying with the employer's quality procedures
Applying the requirements for consecrated and non-consecrated ground and structures of special interest, and observing the protocols relating to the bereaved and the public
Recognising when specialist skills or knowledge are needed and reporting accordingly, and maintaining the tools and equipment used

Assessment

Competence is judged on what the mason actually produces and does at work. Assessment follows the consolidated assessment strategy applied to construction and built environment qualifications, and is carried out by an assessor with current, verifiable occupational expertise in the trade. There is no examination; the candidate builds a portfolio of evidence covering every learning outcome and assessment criterion in each required unit, and a single piece of evidence may satisfy more than one criterion where it genuinely does so.

Workplace observation

The assessor observes the mason carrying out real memorial work — setting out and marking, cutting and shaping, lettering and carving, arranging and carrying out lifts, preparing and reinstating foundations, and re-fixing or repairing existing memorials — and records what was seen, under what conditions and to what standard.

Work products

Finished and part-finished work is central evidence for this occupation: memorial stones and plaques, templates, moulds and reverses, lettering and carved detail, surface finishes, and completed repairs and reinstatements, normally supported by photographs where the item has been delivered or fixed.

Employer records and workplace documentation

Drawings, specifications, customer orders, schedules, cutting and setting-out records, method statements, risk assessments, lifting arrangements and job sheets show how the work was planned and controlled as well as what was produced.

Witness testimony

Statements from supervisors, employers, colleagues or clients can corroborate performance over time, particularly for tasks carried out in cemeteries or on customer premises where the assessor was not present.

Professional discussion and questioning

Structured discussion and oral or written questioning are used to confirm underpinning knowledge that observation alone cannot show — for example the properties and limitations of different memorial stones, the reasons for a chosen fixing or repair method, the requirements attached to consecrated ground and structures of special interest, and the correct response to incidents and emergencies.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Where a mason already holds evidence of relevant achievement or has documented experience meeting the standards, recognition of prior learning may be applied, subject to the evidence being current, authentic, sufficient and directly matched to the criteria.

Simulation

Workplace evidence of practical skills for the memorial masonry units cannot be simulated. Practical performance must be generated through genuine work in a real work environment; a workshop exercise created solely for assessment purposes does not meet the requirement. Underpinning knowledge may be confirmed away from the task through discussion or questioning, but this does not substitute for performance evidence.

To complete the qualification, the candidate must achieve every required unit, with evidence that is valid, authentic, sufficient and current across all of the assessment criteria, demonstrating consistent performance rather than a single successful job.

Career Progression

The qualification confirms advanced craft competence in a small and specialised trade, and the realistic routes forward run in three directions: deeper specialisation in memorial work, sideways movement into other stone occupations, and progression into supervision. Advancement depends on the opportunities available with an employer or through self-employment, and further roles may require additional experience, training or permissions.

Skilled memorial masonry roles

Confirmed competence supports work as a memorial mason, letter cutter, memorial fixer, or workshop and yard mason within monumental masonry businesses, including work on new commissions, inscriptions added to existing memorials, and cemetery and churchyard maintenance contracts.

Related stone occupations

Masons who want to broaden beyond memorials can pursue the other stonemasonry pathways recognised within the wider qualification, such as workshop production of architectural stone components or the setting out and erection of stonemasonry structures. These are separate achievements with their own required units and are not automatically covered by memorial masonry competence.

Advanced craft and conservation work

Experience of repairing and reinstating older memorials, and of working with structures of special interest in consecrated and non-consecrated ground, can lead towards heritage and conservation stonework. Roles of this kind normally call for additional conservation-specific training or qualifications alongside demonstrated craft experience.

Supervisory and business routes

Some masons move into workshop or contracts supervision, estimating, or the management of their own memorial masonry business. Supervisory qualifications in construction occupational work supervision, and higher-level construction qualifications, provide recognised routes for those taking on responsibility for others' work.

FAQs

The questions below address the points that come up most often about this particular pathway — chiefly the workplace access it demands, how it differs from neighbouring stonemasonry qualifications, and what counts as acceptable evidence in memorial work.

Yes, in practice. The technical units require performance evidence from genuine memorial work, and the practical skills cannot be simulated. Employment, self-employment or a subcontract arrangement can all work, provided you have continuing access to real commissions and permission for an assessor to observe you.

No. Both sit within the same wider stonemasonry qualification and share the same workplace competence units, but the technical units differ. Banker masonry recognises the production of architectural stonemasonry components and complex templates and moulds, whereas this pathway recognises the production and repair of memorials, including lettering, carving and re-fixing.

Yes. Both technical units are required, so a candidate must be able to demonstrate the production of complex memorials and the repair, maintenance and re-fixing of existing memorials, including foundations and supporting structures. If your employer only carries out one type of work, you will need access to the other before you can complete.

The production unit covers hand-cut lettering, hand carving, complex incised lettering, and raised and inlaid lead lettering, together with the reproduction of design layouts using computer imaging onto vinyl sheeting where the business uses that method, and the production of appropriate surface finishes.

Not for the practical performance requirements. Workplace evidence of skills for the memorial masonry units cannot be simulated. Training-centre practice may help you develop or refresh a technique, and knowledge can be confirmed through discussion or questioning, but the competence evidence itself must come from real work.

It covers arranging lifts to working instructions, transporting memorial stones safely and securely, positioning and securing them, and working with and around plant and machinery. Some approved structures additionally offer a non-compulsory unit on slinging and signalling the movement of suspended loads, endorsed for memorial masonry, but that unit is supplementary rather than required.

Both technical units require knowledge of the specific requirements applying to consecrated and non-consecrated ground and to structures of historical or environmental significance, as well as the protocols expected when working near the bereaved and members of the public. Permissions to carry out the work itself are a matter for the burial authority, landowner or client, and are separate from the qualification.

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