December 2025 Inspiration: Andy Denman

BTTB Inspiration of the Month

‘My mission is to contribute in giving the Construction Industry their next generation of Bricklayers. This, I do by way of my 'raw,' 'no nonsense' and 'real life experience' teaching approach’

Andy Denman

Andy Denman has built a remarkable career through sheer talent, dedication and an unwavering passion for the craft of bricklaying. With over 50 years of industry experience, Andy first made his mark through the delivery of high quality construction projects, where his precision, consistency and renowned attention to detail set a standard that many tradespeople still strive to emulate today.

For the last 12 years at Crawley College, Andy has channelled that same mastery into developing the next generation of bricklayers. His commitment to training young people is driven by both enthusiasm and a deep personal pride in seeing new entrants succeed. Andy’s classroom and workshop have always been places where high standards are matched with encouragement, patience and relentless positivity. His students recognise this, which is why they nominated him for the Inspirational Staff Award, a testament to the profound impact he has had on those he teaches.

Throughout his teaching career, Andy has played a central role in elevating the status of bricklaying as a craft. His learners regularly achieve exceptional results, and his delivery is underpinned by his strong working relationships with employers, competition networks and industry partners. Andy is a long-standing supporter of skills competitions, quality benchmarking and craftsmanship development, and he has consistently pushed for learners to celebrate their work and take pride in the trade.

Andy will leave a significant gap when he retires at the end of 2025. His influence will continue to be seen in the hundreds of students he has trained, the colleagues he has inspired and the culture of craftsmanship and professionalism he has helped shape at Crawley College and beyond.

He leaves behind a legacy defined by skill, integrity, pride in workmanship, and a lifelong commitment to celebrating the trade he loves.

Enjoy your well earned retirement Andy and thank you for everything you have contributed to brickwork education.