How this Salford building academy is changing futures – brick by brick

Tucked away in a unit in Pendlebury, between the busy arteries of Bolton and Manchester Road, a quiet kind of transformation is underway. 

Behind the nondescript shutter doors of QUICKBRICK Training Academy, young lives once labelled as “lost causes” are being  rebuilt: brick by brick, plaster stroke by plaster stroke. 

For two of its founders, Lee Barker and Gary Partridge, this is a lifelong passion and a mission forged from the fires of their own pasts. 

QUICKBRICK

QUICKBRICK isn’t your average construction school. It’s an alternative education provider welcoming students from Key Stage Four who’ve been permanently excluded from mainstream schools, many who’ve been in trouble with the police or are stuck in Limbo. They could also be in the Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) system or at risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). 

Here, through bricklaying, plastering and care, students find skills and something far more valuable: inspiration.

“Some of our kids have never heard ‘I love you’ from their parents,” said Lee Barker. “Never had anyone tell them they’re worth anything. We change that. We don’t just teach them how to lay bricks. We help them rebuild themselves.”

Lee knows what that rebuilding feels like. Born and raised in Salford, his story begins in chaos.

“Both my parents were alcoholics. I went into care at 13 and into a detention centre at 14,” he shared. “From there, it was youth offending institutions. I developed a drug habit in jail. I was in and out of the system until I was 24.”

And instead of running from his past, he uses it to connect with the young people who walk through QUICKBRICK’s doors.

“We know what these kids are going through because we’ve been through it ourselves. We know how to talk to them and get them engaged. We try and make them realise what’s at stake and how they can start rebuilding towards a better future,” Lee added. 

Gary Partridge, QUICKBRICK co-founder, explained why he helped found it. “My younger brother is autistic,” Gary explained. “He was completely let down by the system. No educational support, no place to go. That’s what lit the fire in me.”

The pair met through Brad, one of Lee’s former students who now runs a successful building firm at just 22.

When Gary mentioned wanting to help kids falling through the cracks, Brad knew exactly who to call. 

“We met and got on like a house on fire,” said Lee. “We both had this drive, this urgency. We’ve both got this backstory that drives us forward.”

But passion alone doesn’t pay rent. For over a year, Lee and Gary paid for their Pendlebury unit out of pocket, with no students and no income. “We were listed on the Northwest Procurement Portal, but it took months to be approved,” Lee said.

“We worked full-time for no money, splitting £300 a week between us. I’ve got five kids. It was tough.”

“Any sane person would’ve walked away,” added Gary. “But we couldn’t. We’d come too far.”

Alternative education providers in Salford

Today, that gamble has paid off. QUICKBRICK now works with up to 60 students, offering NCFE-accredited qualifications in multi-construction activities. The provision includes assessment and placement, tailored training, practical experience, and certification.

But for Lee and Gary, it’s never been about churning out certificates.

“We had this one lad,” Lee said, “He was always quiet, always doubting himself. We taught him how to plaster. Four weekends ago, he earned £500 in two days. When he told the others, they were buzzing. ‘No way!’ they said.

“And he goes, ‘Yeah, I plastered a wall, did a ceiling, built a bit of a wall.'”

“That moment? That’s when it clicks for them. They start believing in their value.”

When the students learn how much they can make by learning a skill, it incentivises them to get off the streets, to stop misbehaving and start getting out there and earn some good, honest money. 

“Some of these kids are up to no good, they’re doing whatever, grafting on the streets – maybe being antisocial. Once we show them how much money they can earn by learning a trade, it gets them thinking, oh yeah, I can make money this way instead. It’s like the old saying, ‘give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime’”.

“That was worth 500 quid and it’s just took you four hours. It’s like, do the maths, mate.”

The training centre isn’t just about skills. It’s about support. Students have access to staff, SEND support, mindset coaching, mentoring, and confidence-building. Kids can also get something to eat with crumpets and crepes in the morning, a great lunch and even clock off for a game of football now and then. 

The daily capacity is capped at 20 to ensure each student gets meaningful attention.

“We also try and teach the lads how to behave well, and treat their parents with respect. It’s not just about the tools.

“We get lads coming in who’ve been written off by every teacher, every authority figure,” said Gary. “They get here and we say, ‘Right. Let’s see what you can do.”

“And it lets them flourish, being given a chance and support.

“It’s a bit surreal for me and the team though, we’re now being referred pupils by the same teachers who expelled me. We’ve come a full circle!” 

What do they teach at QUICKBRICK?

QUICKBRICK has a variety and diverse selection of bricklaying courses to meet various needs. 

Their primary offerings are categorised into ‘Professional’ and ‘Short’ courses. The ‘Short’ courses are not only cost-effective but also flexible, spanning from 1 to 15 days. These programs are specifically crafted for homeowners looking to acquire fundamental bricklaying skills and are equally suitable for individuals from other trades aiming to expand their construction skillset into bricklaying.

On the other hand, their ‘Professional’ bricklaying courses extend from 4 to 8 weeks, catering to those seeking a career change and aspiring to become fully-fledged, skilled bricklayers in the construction industry.

They also offer tiling courses, plastering and joinery too. If you’re looking to get your foot in the door of the industry, this is the place for you.

 A community centre

The centre has become a community hub. Students leave with real-life trade skills. Some go straight into apprenticeships, while others set up small businesses. The duo’s goal is long-term change.

“We don’t want them back here next year,” Gary laughed. “We want them to build their future. Literally.”

There’s no doubt that Quick Bricks is filling a critical gap. With a national rise in school exclusions and mental health issues among teens, alternative provisions like these are vital. But what sets Quick Bricks apart isn’t just the curriculum. It’s the people.

“We don’t care about your past,” Lee said. ” We care about your next step. You can’t change where you’ve come from. But you can decide where you go next.”

In a world where young people are too often dismissed, Quick Bricks offers something rare: belief and encouragement. 

“We tell them, ‘You don’t need GCSES to be someone,'” said Gary. “‘You just need to be willing to graft.'”

And for the young people building new lives one brick at a time, that’s more than a message.

It’s helping them build a foundation for their lives. 

Quick Brick is also celebrating having won the Spirit of Salford Best Child-Friendly Organisation award for 2025. 

Find out more about QUICKBRICK

You can find out more about Quick Brick by clicking here