British Gypsum has taken on 15 apprentices from plaster contractors across the country to complete a qualification in drylining.
The Drylining Apprenticeship, which has been developed by British Gypsum in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and industry, is designed to meet employers’ needs and develop young people into the ‘installers of the future’. Increased demand for drylining courses has created the need for additional intakes in April 2014, which are also now full.
The apprentices will complete a two-year course, including a 17-week element at Saint-Gobain’s Technical Academy branches in Erith, Kent and East Leake, Leicestershire and Kirby Thore in Cumbria.
The course involves rigorous training in all aspects of drylining systems, including training and assessment of functional skills and the completion of a final examination and synoptical practical assessment needs. Training will be delivered in three-week blocks and apprentices will be awarded an Interior Systems Level 2 Diploma in Drylining on completion.
During the remainder of the course, British Gypsum assessors gather onsite evidence from the workplace to complete a portfolio which will count towards a Drylining – Fixing and/or Finishing NVQ Level 2 Diploma in Interior Systems. This approach leads to a timely achievement of apprentices within a two-year period.
David Hall, technical academy manager at British Gypsum, said: “We’ve had an overwhelming response to our apprenticeship schemes from plastering and drylining companies throughout the UK and we are extremely pleased with the standards of development and commitment to training from all our apprentices.
“Apprenticeships designed to meet the needs of industry can really help young tradespeople make a big impact in productivity in their early years of employment in the construction industry. British Gypsum offers the highest level of training and support for apprentices to gain these vital skills required to succeed and further develop their careers within the interior systems sector.”
