How to Become a Plasterer in the UK

Tips for Starting a Career as a Plasterer

At The Swindon Plasterer, we know the building profession has plenty of trades, and one of the oldest is plastering. What it is, is where you are going to, be putting the plaster on the walls and ceilings, but they are going to form a sound and even fireproof surface.

You will also find that this is going to involve making a plaster veneer over drywall to provide texture to the finish, but also allows for insulation for prefabricated systems and ornaments that are cast.

You will find several different forms of plastering; the notable ones will be dry lining, this is when a lining is put onto an inside wall that does not need to have any plaster; the other is fibrous. Which is the material is a fibrous material that is composed of plaster that is laid on canvas that has been stretched out. If you are an excellent plasterer, you will know the types of plaster and when each should be used.

In some ways, this is a job that is going to have a lot of responsibility for it. While this type of work does not seem like it is that important, it can make the difference between having a great looking wall or one that has plenty of cracks in it. When the walls do have cracks, it can lead to a weak foundation and eventually lead to the home having structural issues.

This is going to explain why this is one job that is in high demand and why a good plasterer is worth is weight in gold.

What Training Is Required To Be a Plasterer?

When you want to get into this job field one of the first things to do is to take on an apprenticeship. You will often find that funds are available for 16-24-year-olds, but it is open to people who are 25+ years of age. If you want to get an apprenticeship in this field, you will need to have some GCSE grades in a variety of subjects, notably mathematics, design technology, and even literature. You will also notice that if you have a diploma in construction or an Edexcel introductory certificate, they tend to be well accepted as well.

What Certification are Required To Be a Plasterer in the UK?

These are going to include a construction certificate from City & Guilds Basic Skills, the advanced award, and even the preparation for entry-level employment. Once you get those, you will want to get some work experience that will provide you with the training you need on the job. If you’re going to make this into a great career, though, it is highly recommended to get your NVQ in Plastering. You will find a large number of training places in the UK.

NVQ Assessments

These are going to be worked based assessments, and that means you have to be working for the assessor to come and see you. While you may have thought the City & Guilds Certificate was hard to earn, it is going to help you in finding employment. Once you get hired, you will want to tell your employer that you want to have an NVQ assessment.

The first step in this is getting interviewed by the assessor, and that is when an action plan will be figured out. When you are getting you NVQ, it is an on-the-job assessment, and you will be visited by the assessor during the job to see how you work and to ask questions as well.

The assessor will then sign off when you are ready, by testing your knowledge and seeing your work performance that you are competent in the workplace. You will even get advice and guidance at times from the observations the assessor is doing.

Once you have done this, the assessor will let you know if you have been found competent for each unit of testing. When you have passed all the units, you will get your NVQ. In Scotland, this would be the same as the SVQ. In fact, the SVQ and the NVQ courses are almost the same structure plan.

Requirements You Need To Start Your Plastering Career

What Are Employers Looking For?

Often an employer will be looking for a large number of qualities. What the plasterer needs to have are the practical skills that are required to work with the tools. You should also be able to work quickly and be a team member without making mistakes.

You will also need to have math skills to make sure you calculate the surface areas and volumes correctly. You also need to have a creative ability for the plastering work that you are doing. You should be in reasonably good shape and know how to spot health or safety problems.

How Much Money Does Plastering Pay In The UK?

In general, the starting pay is between 16 and 20 thousand pounds per annum, but it depends on where the business is based. As you start to become experienced the chance of the pay going up to 28 thousand pounds is not unheard of. If you are self-employed, though the salary is determined by how much you work. The more jobs you take on, the more you make. However, what you need to realise is the jobs you take on will pay a different amount of money. You may also find that you will have some lean times when you do not have any work coming in. Since that is the case, a self-employed plasterer has their income determined by the jobs and not the annual pay.

Positives & Negatives of a Plastering Career in the UK

When you are looking for this job, you will notice that it has a lot of pros and cons. Here are the key positives and negatives of this job.

Positives:

• Does not require any formal education.
• The customers are usually very thankful for the job.
• If you are self-employed, you can make your work schedule.
• You have plenty of chances to earn overtime pay.

Negatives:

• It can be challenging to find an apprenticeship.
• You need to be patient to get some of the jobs done.
• If the job is not done right, the customers will have some significant problems with the home.
• If you are self-employed, you can go a long time in between jobs.