Summary

Historic England are excited to be seeking a Plasterer Apprentice. This apprenticeship is a 40 month contract where you will be working 40 hours a week, 7:00am-15:30.

You will be working towards completion of your plastering apprenticeship over the course of 40 months. Apprenticeships are made up of 80% of your time on the job, and 20% of your time will be spent off the job, completing a training programme with a construction skills College. This training may be delivered by residential block release, meaning you will spend up to one week at a time on campus at the college, or by day release, roughly 1 day each week, as well as online learning. All travel and subsistence costs will be met by Historic England for required training purposes.

As an apprentice plasterer specialising in heritage skills you will be hosted by Excel Bespoke Plastering Ltd are based in Thurlstone, sheffield. Your work will contribute to the management of England’s unique historic environment, helping to ensure that it can be used, understood and enjoyed by a diverse range of people for generations to come. All trainees engaged in the programme will benefit from experience of construction on a heritage site. Your programme of learning will be generously grant funded by the Hamish Ogston Foundation and led by Historic England. Some of your learning will take place at Summer School in 2024, where trainees will meet each other and Historic England staff, and practice conservation as an interdisciplinary activity.  You may also be hosted by other construction firms to gain the full breadth of training you need to complete your apprenticeship, such as fixing internal plasterboard and dry lining.

You will be supervised by a skilled expert during your apprenticeship and in addition you will be supported by a variety of staff from Historic England, including a mentor and several other dedicated apprenticeship staff members. You will also have contact with other Hamish Ogston Foundation apprentices as well as other apprentices studying at the same college as you, to discuss your experiences and assist each other through your apprenticeship journey.

What will you be doing?

Through your apprenticeship college training you will learn, the foundation understanding of modern plastering trade including:

Health and Safety on a construction site

prepare surfaces and level off uneven areas

mix plaster to the right consistency by hand or with an electric mixer

apply 'wet' plaster finishes to walls and ceilings

create ornamental features like ceiling roses, cornices and architraves - fibrous plastering

coat outside walls with protective coverings like pebble - dash or render

Through your day to day role with your host organisation and the Historic England/Hamish Ogston foundation Summer School you will:

Learn how to safely identify and work with a full range of plastering types and materials.  

Carry out a variety of traditional plastering techniques such as non-hydraulic plastering e.g. lime or clay.  

Work on a variety of building types and with a variety of differing materials such as masonry, cob, lath or reed.

Restoring and maintaining plastered walls, ceilings and ornamental features such as ceiling roses, cornices and architraves.

learn and apply a variety of casting techniques.

With guidance, learn how to critically determine the correct materials and processes to be used when plastering.

Over the course of the apprenticeship to be able to gauge the amount of materials and time required for carrying out work.

Travel

This role will require regular daily travel to work sites and college campuses with potential for planned overnight stays. Attendance of a Heritage Skills summer school experience will be required to complete your apprenticeship. The ability to drive a vehicle would therefore be advantageous but is not essential.

What support will you have?

You will be supervised for your day to day role and supported by a personal Learning Mentor from Historic England. You will also receive guidance and assistance from Hamish Ogston Foundation Heritage Building Skills Programme Staff.

You will also benefit from the guidance of college tutors and their own dedicated apprenticeships support staff such as work place reviewers.

Essential qualifications:

• Maths and English GCSE’s at Level 1 or above

Essential experience, knowledge and skills:

• Passion and interest in heritage and the built environment

• Dedication, comprehend the importance of punctuality and reliability

• Possess good communication skills

• Curiosity and has a desire to continuously learn.

• Willingness to work and travel to a variety of locations.

• Willingness to work in a physically demanding role and at heights.

Historic England is committed to providing equality of opportunity. If you have a disability, we would be happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to the job with you.

Please note the standard Rewards Package for Historic England does not apply to this post.

Application Closing Date: 05/06/2023

Interview Date: TBC 20th June – 03rd July 2023

Start date: 01/09/2023

Completion date: 31/08/2024