APPRENTICE stonemasons have completed a commission at a multimillion-pound secondary school site in Wallyford.

Darren Brown and Simon Reay worked on a boundary wall at the Wallyford Secondary Learning Campus, being built on farmland west of Masons Way.

They were supervised and trained by The Ridge Foundations CIC, a construction company/social enterprise which is part of the Dunbar-based charity The Ridge SCIO.

The Ridge works to create local job and training opportunities.

The construction skills programme employs young people as part of their apprenticeship in stonemasonry, which will help them move into employment within the sector.

The apprentices were commissioned to work on an existing wall on the west side of the £47.2m school campus.

They created a stone wall with lime mortar pointing, rebedded stone coping and constructed new openings and infilled damaged areas with recycled stone.

Councillor Fiona Dugdale, cabinet member for education, families and children’s services, said: “This has been a great opportunity for the young apprentices to take their learning into a live construction environment and gain a unique insight into the industry.

“I’d like to commend the apprentices on their

work and The Ridge, Hub South East and Morrison Construction for supporting them.”

Scott Brown, Hub South East’s projects director, added: “We’re keen to ensure that, through Hub projects, real social value is delivered and local people are able to access opportunities to develop skills and gain industry experience.”

Philip Galbraith, project director for Morrison Construction Building Central, said: “As a business we are always seeking any opportunity to promote early careers and get young talent involved in the construction industry.

“We were more than happy to be able to offer this opportunity for the trainees to get involved in real, substantial hands-on activity, and I’m delighted to say they excelled.”