National Apprenticeship Week 2026:  wienerberger celebrates two generations of apprentices shaping the future of construction

At wienerberger UK & Ireland, we are committed to tackling the skills gap directly through our Apprenticeship Programmes, which are designed to nurture emerging talents, build a skilled workforce of young people, and shape the next generation of problem solvers and innovators in building for what’s next.  

To mark National Apprenticeship Week 2026, (Monday 9th to Sunday 15th February), we are celebrating some of our current and former engineering apprentices, as they share their apprenticeship journey (on-going and past), the valuable new skills they have gained, while also offering useful tips to young people considering an apprenticeship.    

Mason McGrath is a Maintenance Apprentice at wienerberger UK who started his apprenticeship journey a year and a half ago at our Denton site. Since then, he has grown in confidence and developed strong working relationships with engineers and technicians across the team, becoming an integral part of the engineering team. Commenting on his journey, he says.  

“I first started looking for an apprenticeship after school because I wanted to do something hands-on and learn on the job. I knew I’d learn more, and quicker by being hands-on that’s why I chose an apprenticeship over going to college. My grandad, who used to be an engineer at wienerberger inspired me to explore the apprenticeship opportunity. Initially, I wanted to become an electrician but later realised that wienerberger was the perfect place to learn both the mechanical and electrical sides of engineering, as well as how machines function.  My apprenticeship is four years long, which gives me plenty of time to gain knowledge from all the engineers on site and get properly involved in day-to-day work. So far, I’ve been switching between mechanical and electrical tasks to keep the plant running.    

wienerberger has invested a lot in my development, paying for my tools, PPE and all my training. As part of my apprenticeship, I also go to the Centre of Excellence at the Sandtoft site, which is another important part of my learning. During my first two weeks there, I completed a relay logic course that really boosted my electrical knowledge, along with risk assessment training and other skills I can bring back and apply on site. I think the Centre of Excellence is a great idea because it allows us to take part in future projects and develop skills that will help us throughout our careers. So far, I’ve built strong working relationships with my colleagues, and I’m confident that I’m on the right path to becoming a fully qualified Maintenance Technician.”  

– Mason McGrath, Maintenance Apprentice at wienerberger UK (Denton works).    

We also spoke to Paul Donlan, who began his career at wienerberger as an apprentice 30 years ago and have since progressed into managerial roles, currently the Maintenance Manager, at wienerberger UK (Denton works). Paul’s journey shows the long-term impact of apprenticeships, and how it helps build strong careers.  

“I started my career at wienerberger as an apprentice, then progressed to a Mechanical Engineer after completing my apprenticeship. In 2010, I became a Maintenance Team Leader, and in 2015, I moved into my current role as Maintenance Manager. Having been with the company for three decades, I’ve seen first-hand how much opportunity there is for progression.   

One of the things I value most is being able to pass on my knowledge and experience to future generations of engineers, operators, and everyone involved in brickmaking. The wealth of experience I’ve gathered over the years is worth sharing and that’s why I’m passionate about guiding and supporting new talents through our apprenticeship programme.” 

– Paul Donlan, Maintenance Manager, wienerberger UK (Denton works)

Join our engineering apprenticeship programme across 7 sites.

Discover more about our wienerberger Engineering Apprentice Programme 2026 , with opportunties avaliable across multiple UK sites: Denton, Ewhurst, Goxhill, Kingsbury, Sandtoft, Smeed Dean, and Warnham. 

Deadline: Closing date for applications is Friday, 27th February 2026.