CERTIFIED MEMORIAL MASONRY TRAINING
2026 Autumn/ Winter Update
We started off 2026 with six persons attending at out Kirkcudbright Training Centre and successfully completing their J1N8-45 Manage and Maintain Burial Ground memorials award. We are also in the process of further developing a Gantry operation and lifting training course, which we already demonstrate during our four day Dismantle and re-fixing courses, we have recently delivered training in Chorley in Lancashire and Inveresk in Scotland as well as at our Local Training Centre.
Keep a lookout on our Facebook page for further information regarding our Open Courses and awards which are being planned for 2026.
The Inspection and Assessment of Burial Ground memorials course combined with the Qualifications Scotland Manage and Maintain Burial Ground Memorials award is still proving to be very popular and we understand that this is the only certified Memorial Safety Inspection Award available in the UK. This award has a SCQF level and credit value.
https://on.abdn.ac.uk/discover/credits-explained
In addition to these courses we are also carrying out individual HA1J-04 Fixing assessments on Memorial Masons as and when required. Please give us a call on 01557 330941 to book an assessment appointment, or send us an e-mail from this website.
NAMM and BRAMM
We are often asked about NAMM and BRAMM, so we thought we would give you a bit of an an insight into both of these organisations.
NAMM (The National Association of Memorial Masons) is an old established Memorial Masonry Trade Association, this association has, over the years been responsible for the creation of the British Standard (BS 8415) for memorials. A member of NAMM sat on the British Standards Board and the association has produced an industry code of working practice to demonstrate to memorial fixers how to achieve the British Standard. One of our Senior Trainers Douglas Swan was National President of NAMM in 2010 and was involved in the development of many of NAMM’s Training courses and one of the two original verifier/ assessors for the NAMM (RQMF) fixer award, as well as being heavily involved in the creation of the RQMF, which is the NAMM register of qualified memorial fixers/erectors. The NAMM RQMF award is delivered as a City and Guilds award, but is not totally based upon the National Occupational or Construction skills awards, however they do accept the COS VR194 award to allow a memorial masons to register with the RQMF provided all other criteria has been met. Qualifications Scotland deliver this award under their unit name of HA1J-04 but it is the same National Occupational Standards award.
What many people are unaware of, is that NAMM were also responsible for the creation of BRAMM (British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons) BRAMM is to all intents and purposes a register of qualified memorial fixers/erectors. BRAMM then broke away from NAMM leading to a political conflict between both organisations, a conflict which has really never been completely resolved. BRAMM published their own industry standard known as the BRAMM Blue Book, which also demonstrates to the memorial mason how to achieve the standard. The BRAMM Blue book is an excellent publication and is much easier to follow than the NAMM COWP ( which you also have to pay for).
Our main gripe with these two organisations is that they look down upon the awards we deliver from here in Scotland, this is mainly due to ignorance on how the Qualifications System works in Scotland. Our awarding body now known as Qualifications Scotland (Formerly SQA) has a strict process which has to be followed before you can become a Test Centre, we followed this process when Bob Strickland stepped down and we had to apply to become our own stand alone Test Centre. We are also subject to strict rules about assessment, verification, record keeping, privacy and GDPR regulations.
In addition to the general rules, all of our assessors and internal verifiers must be fully qualified in memorial masonry, and as we also deliver training must also be fully qualified and insured to carry out these tasks. To achieve a NAMM fixer licence, an assessor shall visit and assess you, usually observe you fixing or erecting a memorial of your choice, using the the method which applies in the Burial Ground where you are working. At the and of the assessment you will be informed if you have attained your award or for what reasons you may have failed. We operate a very similar system for individual assessments.
Attaining a BRAMM fixer licence is a much more complicated and dare we say, expensive matter. You can only be assessed by erecting or fixing a 2′ 6″ (750mm) lawn memorial on a pre pressed foundation slab, using a ground anchor system, whether this is your normal practice or not. Often this memorial has then to be dismantled and taken away. We feel this discriminates against the candidates as they are not being assessed on their knowledge and ability of how to fix or erect a memorial using their normal every day methods, instead they are being judged using a method they may never use again. BRAMM refuse to accept the Qualifications Scotland award, despite the strict protocols which are employed to achieve it. We also feel using the name British Register of Accredited Memorial Masons is misleading as their qualification is only for fixing /erecting memorials and not actual proof of a candidates skill or competency as an actual memorial mason.
Our four day training courses combine training and assessment, so during a training course our candidates are continually assessed and tested on their knowledge of the standards, they get to work on several types and sizes of memorials, from simple lawn memorials, monoliths, crosses and monuments which often require the use of lifting equipment. The candidates are shown a variety of fixing/erecting methods including the pressed slab and ground anchor method. At the end of the training their portfolios which have a written test section included are completed and those who have shown the correct answers, and demonstrated their knowledge and the skills required can achieve their award.
We strive to improve our training and keep all of our courses as current as possible; Douglas is involved with the National Occupational Standards Committee who are currently reviewing a number of the stone masonry awards, whilst also looking at modern apprenticeships. The British Standard BS8415 – 2018 has been reviewed and no changes have been made. Any changes to the standards will be absorbed into our training ensuring the information we deliver are up to date.
Our awarding body the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) is changing during 2026 to Qualifications Scotland, this change shall not make any difference to qualifications already achieved nor to those which we offer. The change is a restructure within the awarding body, which shall remain an international qualifications awarding body.
Other news is that any candidates who have previously received a Tomasson Memorial Inspection Competence Certificate (or equivalent award) can now upgrade that certificate (for a reasonable fee) to the SQA J1N-45 Manage and Maintain Cemetery memorial award, provided that the candidate is currently actively involved in memorial testing activities. (Please contact us for more information)
Tomasson Consultants
Although originally based in Glasgow the consultancy provides Memorial Masonry Training anywhere in the UK including Northern Ireland and can deliver SVQ qualifications.
The consultancy employs fully qualified industry experienced memorial masons to deliver a wide range of memorial masonry training courses including headstone or memorial fixing, headstone or memorial repairs and restoration and The Testing and Inspection of Burial Ground memorials.
Training courses and assessments in Memorial masonry can be arranged at your place of work, any cemetery or burial ground, or at our fully equipped training centre.
Courses and training can be tailored to suit individual requirements where a special skill is required, or as part of one of our standard courses.
Tools and equipment are supplied for all courses.Students are required to provide their own PPE. A list is provided for students, which will normally comprise of the following items:
- Overalls or work trousers
- Steel toe capped boots or shoes
- Safety gloves
- Wet weather clothing
- Ear defenders or ear plugs
- Dust masks
- Safety goggles or safety glasses
