Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has launched a survey of stonemasonry in Scotland to better understand the current status of the sector.

The survey seeks to gather information on the number of stonemasons there are in Scotland, where the businesses that employ stonemasons are based, and the need for stonemasonry skills across the country.

The survey is the first in a series examining stonemasonry in Scotland and is an action arising out of the work of the Stonemasonry Training Working Group of sector partners and stakeholders, convened by HES. The data gathered will be used as a first step to building understanding of how the stonemasonry sector looks across different parts of Scotland, and ensuring it is equipped to meet the challenges of the future. The aim is to create a stonemasonry specific dataset that will enable better sector engagement and consultation, as ideas and proposals on the future of stonemasonry training are developed.

HES supports the delivery of stonemasonry skills training at its Skills Training Centres in Elgin and Stirling, in partnership with Forth Valley College.

Colin Tennant, Head of Technical Education and Training at HES, said: "With our built environment in Scotland predominantly made of stone, it is crucial we ensure a continuing supply of trained stonemasons to repair, maintain and conserve this heritage.

"Stonemasonry is also a sustainable traditional skill which supports both green jobs and a circular economy which helps maximise our existing resources, crucial for our national net-zero ambitions."

"We want to ensure the sector can thrive into the future, which is why we’re launching this survey to gather information which will help us build a comprehensive picture of stonemasonry in Scotland. To help us to that, we would urge as many stonemasons and employers as possible will take part in the survey."

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The survey will be open until Tuesday 28 February and can be accessed on the HES website.

The Wee House Group has announced an expansion of its East Ayrshire factory, with the working space now measuring a vast 120,000sq feet.

The new space, Hall 4, is an additional area for the construction of modular homes, required to facilitate fulfilment of a burgeoning order book.

The facility is itself a repurposed entity, once home to the bustling Kingsmead Carpets factory – a major employer in the town of Cumnock at the turn of the century. The Wee House Group is immensely proud to be bringing productive activity and employment back, at scale, to the building on the Caponacre Industrial Estate. Now employing over 60 people, the majority of whom are local to Ayrshire, the workforce is back in region of that employed by Kingsmead just over 20 years ago.

Breathing new life into this enormous, historic building has been an outstanding achievement for The Wee House Group, especially in the short time since the company was formed, and the production of sustainable, modular housing, using modern techniques continues to provide a real boost to the local economy.

The Wee House Group comprises: The Wee House Company (bespoke solutions for small sites), Connect Modular (delivering large scale, affordable developments) and Hope South West (groundworks division) and provides a full, turnkey service from concept design including statutory consents, to the manufacturing of new homes and their completion on-site, to a variety of clients, from private individuals to local authorities and housing developers.

Modular construction methods take the majority of the building process offsite, into a controlled environment. Houses are constructed in the 120,000 sq ft manufacturing facility with kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing and electrics pre-fitted prior to being transported to site. Once on site, the final 10% of the building work is completed.

One of the notable advantages of this modern construction method is its environmental sustainability. In comparison to an equivalent, traditionally built project, up to a staggering 67% less energy is required to produce a modular building. In addition, construction waste is considerably reduced through stringent factory recycling and the proper storage and protection of materials.

Jennifer Higgins, Managing Director at The Wee House Group commented: "We're absolutely thrilled to have expanded our manufacturing facility to cope with the growing pipeline of work. It's wonderful to see the volume of houses increasing in the factory week on week and great that we have the space to maximise production."

The Wee House Group is confidently looking forward to continued growth and to further developing this historically important manufacturing facility, as well as the workforce within it, to once again be a focal point the Ayrshire town/local community can be proud of.