L2 Plastering Apprenticeship Standard

Preparing walls and ceilings for decoration and finishing

This occupation is found in both the new build and refurbishment construction sector, which is the driving force behind the UK economy, employing three million people and contributing 6.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Not only that, the construction industry is central to delivering the homes, schools, hospitals, energy and transport infrastructure our society demands. A career in the construction industry is like no other. Plastering is a core function within the construction sector, particularly the house building sector and refurbishment sectors. The Government has a target to build significantly more new homes over the coming years and therefore the demand for plasterers has never been higher.

The broad purpose of this occupation is to apply layers of plaster onto walls, floors and ceilings. Plastering serves a protective function, in that it makes buildings more robust and also an aesthetic function. Plasterers will often complete dry lining projects during their career. Although a person may specialise solely in dry lining, a plasterer must have the knowledge of dry lining in addition to their knowledge and skills to plaster.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with commercial and domestic customers, other trades, architects and site managers. All plasterers can work on their own or as part of a small team. They work on small-scale domestic jobs, large repair and restoration projects and on big commercial developments such as schools or hospitals, therefore coming into contact with a wide range of people.

Whilst some plasterers are directly employed by companies specialising in plastering, there are a lot who are sub contracted by companies to work on new or existing buildings.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for: Solid plastering
Solid plastering involves applying a range of plastering systems on to different background surfaces using traditional and modern materials. Background surfaces include solid plain walls, walls with openings and returns, ceiling joists and partitions and beams and piers that are attached or independent of walls. Solid plastering work includes preparing solid backgrounds by hand and mechanical means and installing sheet materials such as expanded metal lath/rib lath, standard angle beads, skim beads, stop beads, expansion beads and reinforcements for the application of one, two or three coat plastering or rendering systems. As a solid plasterer you would mainly be installing products on site.

The knowledge, skills and behaviours for this role will be developed over the duration of the apprenticeship.
Maths and English will be embedded within the apprenticeship.