Plastering is another trade skill commonly associated with the construction industry on both new and renovation works. As with plumbing and bricklaying, plastering is a very much in demand skill and with major construction, house builders and fit-out companies offering plastering apprenticeships to keep up with the demand training opportunities are available all across the UK. Plastering as a trade dates back to around 7k B.C and was used in ancient China to produce smooth finishes to walls using gypsum plasters, even Egyptians used plastering on the walls of their tombs and then painted and decorated over the smooth finishes.
By starting as an apprentice plastering job you will gain valuable experience whilst learning on the job from seasoned professionals looking to transfer their knowledge and skills to the next generation of plasters looking for smooth career prospects.
If you have any questions about how to become an apprentice plasterer please feel free to drop us a line: Contact Us
Don't just skim over your career options tidy up those cracks with a plastering apprenticeship.
Becoming a plaster takes time and training on the job through a plastering apprenticeship is the best route in our opinion. As long as you have patience and a willing to learn you will gain valuable skills and knowledge and be able to carve out a long lasting career in the construction industry. The construction sector in the UK is booming and also a secure industry to work in for employment security, even pandemic proof.
Plastering is one of the more highly skills trades and very much in demand, you can also add dry-lining skills to your portfolio which is also widely used in both new build and refurbishment. Dry-lining which is the process of cladding walls and ceilings with plasterboard can also incorporate tape and joining which is another process where you simply tape the joints of the plasterboards and then fill the joint to create a smooth finish after sanding.
Plastering apprenticeships require no previous experience and are widely available from apprentice employers and specialist apprenticeship training providers such as K-10.
During your plastering apprenticeship you will be trained in how to apply plaster to walls and ceilings to leave a smooth and aesthetically pleasing finish to be able to apply paint or other decorating materials to. You will also be shown how to dry-line, compounds joints and tape and joining to complete your plastering portfolio,
There are two main types of plastering Solid and Fibrous. The first is the art of applying plaster to solid background surfaces such as walls or pre-prepared surfaces using modern techniques. The latter Fibrous plastering is more associated with creating moulds for ceiling roasts or cornices.
As with any apprenticeships in any sector you will be expected to work a minimum of thirty hours per week which will include your classroom training, that equates to 20% of your apprenticeship course. At present bricklaying apprenticeships are only offered at Level 2, however there are further training courses you can take to learn advanced skills.
Plastering only has one level of apprenticeship and that is the Intermediate Level 2 which requires no previous experience or additional qualifications. On complete of your apprenticeship training your will have attained an NVQ Level 2 in Plastering and a knowledge based BTEC diploma.
There is no need to stop there with your training and career progression a plastering apprenticeship is just the beginning if you want to develop a long lasting career in construction and non eon to achieve qualifications from a HNC to a Bachelors or Masters degree.
Level 2 Intermediate Plasterer Apprenticeship
This is a 36 month apprenticeship programme where you will receive on the job training and train towards an NVQ Level 2 and BTEC knowledge based diploma.
Level 2 apprenticeships are commonly the lowest paid across all the apprenticeship levels. Apprentice employers are required by law to pay a minimum wage of £4.15 per hour as of April 2020 if you are in the first year of your apprenticeship training or under the age of 19yrs. However due to the competition to attract apprentices for plastering and other construction related apprenticeships, companies are paying much higher with an average pay of £150 - £400 per week to apprentices in the construction industry.
Intermediate Apprenticeships are your entry level into the world of apprenticeships more commonly known as a Level 2 Apprenticeship. Level 2 apprenticeships offer an excellent route into further education post 16, as an alternative to staying on at school, whilst receiving on the job training and studying towards a nationally recognised qualification.
During your intermediate apprenticeship you will study part-time with a college or a training provider, 20% of your training, towards an NVQ Level 2 and knowledge based qualification such as a BTEC, together these qualifications are the equivalent to 5 GCSE's grades 9 - 4 (A* - C on the old grading system). You will also receive a Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English if you don't already have them.
An Intermediate Apprenticeship is great for learning work related skills as apposed to being given more responsibility. This level of training will make you work ready and train you in the hands on skills required to undertake the responsibility of the task and give you the employability skills you need to be successful.
Qualifying Criteria
There is no formal qualifying criteria for a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship however some employers may ask for a minimum of 2 GCSE's to be able to join their apprenticeship programme.
Advanced Apprenticeships or commonly known as Level 3 Apprenticeships are the equivalent to doing 2 A-Levels and are the next level from an intermediate apprenticeship. Level 3 apprenticeships are great for you to start once you have completed your GCSE's and have attained the correct grades to be able to start at this level.
Starting at the advanced level even if you already have A-levels enables you to gain on the training, of which some employers prefer you to have before starting a Higher or Degree apprenticeship.
Just like an intermediate apprenticeship you will be required to spend at least 20% of your time studying with a college or training provider to be able to achieve the qualifications. On completion of you r apprenticeship you will achieve the equivalent of 2 A-Levels in the form of an NVQ Level 3 and a knowledge based qualifications such as a BTEC diploma.
Qualifying Criteria
To qualifying for a Level 3 advanced apprenticeship many employers ask for a minimum of 5 GCSE's which must include Maths and English, this is why an intermediate apprenticeships gives you these qualifications on completion. Although an advanced apprenticeships is the equivalent of 2 A-Levels some employers may add A-Levels as their requirement at this level also.
Find companies advertising advanced apprenticeship jobs on our website.
Higher Apprenticeships are your Levels 4 and 5 qualifications and enable you to study towards a HNC or HND respectively whilst at Level 5 you can also attain a foundation degree which is great if you want to continue in your studies towards a bachelors degree.
During your higher apprenticeship training you will be required to studying part-time with a training provider, college or university which along with your on the job training will enable you to train towards a Level 4 or 5 NVQ and BTEC diploma along with their respective HNC or HND qualification. Higher apprenticeships can take up to four years to complete.
As a higher apprentice you will be given a lot more responsibility which may include managing people or teams or even responsible for managing projects. You will be supported by your employer along side your mentors and tutors making sure to advise and guide you along the way during your apprenticeship programme.
Qualifying Criteria
To qualifying for a higher apprenticeship you will need to have achieved and completed at least a Level 3 Apprenticeship or have 5 GCSE's grades 9-4 which must include Maths and English and 2 A-Levels.
Find companies advertising higher apprenticeship jobs on our website.
Degree apprenticeships were introduced in September 2015 and have been receive with open arms both by employers and apprentices alike. Also known as Level 6 or 7 apprenticeships the degree level apprenticeship enables you to study towards a Bachelors or Masters degree.
You can start a degree apprenticeships straight after your advanced apprenticeship level or alternatively if you want to gain more on the job training before the Level 6 programme you can overlap from a higher apprenticeship programme. Many employers are now partnering with leading universities across the country to offer degree level apprenticeships to help advance your learning opportunities.
Just like studying at university a degree level apprenticeship takes between 3 to 6 years to complete you will achieve this by on the job training with your employer and training provider and then part-time study at the designated university for your apprenticeship course.
Qualifying Criteria
To qualifying for a degree apprenticeship you will need to have at least Level 3 qualifications of 2 A-Levels, NVQ and BTEC or have completely the advanced apprenticeship. Level 6 and 7 are also a natural progression from a higher apprenticeship.
Find companies advertising degree apprenticeship jobs on our website.
FAQs about Plastering Apprenticeships
Where can I find an apprenticeship in plastering?
Use our quick and easy search function to find an apprentice plastering jobs then register to become an apprentice.
Do I have to have previous experience in plastering or construction?
You do not need any previous experience to start a plastering apprenticeship, just a willingness to learn.
How much can I earn as a plasterer?
The average salary for a plaster is £20,000 to £35,000 or if you prefer to work self employed you can earn anything up to around £250 per day.
Will I have to work outside to do an apprenticeship in plastering?
Plaster doesn't do so well when wet, so as a plasterer you will spend the majority if not all of your time working indoors.
Which companies recruit plastering apprentices?
Plasters are in high demand from many construction companies and house builders meaning plenty of opportunity for apprenticeships. Councils and construction industry training providers also offer plastering apprenticeships alongside bricklaying and carpentry apprenticeships.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a form of further education which offers on the job training for you to gain a nationally recognised qualification whilst studying part-time with an apprenticeship training provider, college or university through workshops or classroom training.
Apprenticeship training has to be delivered by a registered apprenticeship training provider which can also be an employer-provider, where the employer you are training through are on the register of training providers to be able to deliver their own training requirements. If an employer acts as an employer-provider they will usually employ a number of people such as Apprenticeship Assessors, Mentors and Managers to support you through your apprenticeship programme.
During your apprenticeship you will receive a salary and all the other benefits permanent employees receive. An apprenticeship job is only for a specified time as stipulated at the beginning of your apprenticeship training which can last anything from 12 months to 5 years.
To find our more about apprenticeships please refer to our What is an Apprenticeship? guide.
Why should you start an apprenticeship?
If you are considering your post 16 options you probably wouldn't have considered an apprenticeship a few years ago and would be struggling or worrying what to do when you leave school. It is a legal requirement for you to now stay in some form of further education until the age of 18 and you now have three options A-Levels, College or an Apprenticeship.
You can start an apprenticeship at the age of 16 through the Intermediate or Advanced level apprenticeship programmes across many industry sectors from Construction, Technology or even Marketing. There are no entry requirements for the intermediate apprenticeship, however you will need at least 5 GCSE's at grade 4 (previously C grade) or above to qualify for the advanced apprenticeship. On completion of the intermediate you will gain the qualifying criteria for a level 3.
The best reason for starting an apprenticeship is on completion of each level you will receive a nationally recognised qualification from an NVQ all the way up to a degree level apprenticeship such as a Bachelors or Masters.
How can you become an apprentice?
There are a number of ways to become an apprentice so we thought we would list them for you:
- Register with websites like ourselves, there are others available.
- Apprenticeship Job Fairs are great for meeting employers and training providers.
- Contact training providers in your area, a simple Google search "Training providers near me" will give you the information you need.
- Contact your local colleges or universities or visit their websites to see if they offer apprenticeship training.
- UCAS promote apprenticeship opportunities on their website on behalf of employers.
and finally......
- Do some research on apprenticeships and find a topic or industry that you would like to start an apprenticeship in and then research local companies in those sectors and visit their websites to see if they offer apprenticeship training and apply directly with them.
Plastering Apprenticeships
FAQs about Plastering Apprenticeships