Glen Norton, of Swift Brickwork Contractors, has been chosen by judges to feature as a finalist in The Craftsperson of the Year Award at The ABC Awards 2024. Glen will find out if he has won this prestigious award on Friday 23rd February 2024 at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, where The Association of Brickwork Contractors are hosting their annual awards ceremony.
Glen Norton’s voyage in the construction industry commenced at the age of 17 back in 1977 when he began working alongside his father. His early exposure to the field was greatly influenced by his family’s deeprooted involvement in the bricklaying trade, with his father and brothers being a part of it. Remarkably, Glen has also imparted his trade skills to his own sons.
In 1977, Glen Norton embarked on an apprenticeship with F. G Brickwork at Hackney College. This apprenticeship provided him with invaluable hands-on experience and formal training in the art of bricklaying. Apprenticeships are often a crucial foundation for a bricklayer’s career, as they offer a blend of practical skills and theoretical knowledge essential for success in the construction industry. Upon completing his three-year apprenticeship, Glen Norton secured a new position at Barefoot, specifically at St. Katharine Docks, where he worked from
1980 to 1982. St. Katharine Docks is a historically significant dockyard and marina area in London, renowned for its picturesque surroundings and the historical value of its brickwork, including arches and cornice brickwork. During his tenure at St. Katharine Docks, Glen Norton likely made significant contributions to various construction and brickwork projects within this area, further refining his skills and expanding his professional expertise in historical and traditional brickwork.
Following the completion of his work at St. Katharine Docks, Glen moved on to The Royal Bank of Scotland International Limited, based in Gun Wharf. This experience enhanced his craftsmanship in historical brick arches and stonework. Subsequently, he worked on various traditional commercial buildings. Later in his career, Glen was involved in the restoration of historical buildings such as St. Pancras Station and International Entrance Brick Work, the Household Cavalry Museum at Horse Guards Parade (Brick Work Package), Museum of London restoration projects, and the extension of Kensington Palace’s orangery.
Throughout his professional journey, Glen Norton’s deep family heritage in bricklaying skills, combined with his apprenticeship training and hands-on experience, played a pivotal role in developing his expertise and solid reputation within the construction industry. His proficiency in applying these skills to historical and traditional brickwork, exemplified by his work at Kensington Palace’s orangery, is truly remarkable. His journey serves as a testament to the enduring importance of family traditions in the field of brickwork. It is particularly commendable that Glen is passing on this rare craftsmanship knowledge to his children, ensuring that this valuable tradition lives on.
SIG Construction Accessories are proud sponsors of this category at The ABC Awards 2024, and present the award to the winner on the night..
