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  • Advanced Plastering Course – 9 Days – £1,150

City & Guilds Intensive Plastering Course - Stoke-on-Trent

Our 9-day advanced plastering course is designed for beginners and career changers who want intensive, hands-on training with the option to gain an accredited certificate from a recognised awarding body.

a person getting a really good finish with his trowel whilst plastering
person getting a good finish on the wall in their training bay
person learning to be a plasterer
person plastering a section of wall in his bay
person plastering intricate area of wall
person skimming a ceiling
person skimming a niche
person skimming a section of wall
Person skimming a wall on a plastering course
person skimming a wall with a window opening
person skimming ceiling on plastering course
plasterboards fitted to the bottom half of the training bay window wall

Advanced Plastering Course – 9 Days – £1,150

Practical, real-world plastering training: you will start hands-on work within your first hour, working in large training bays designed to replicate real job conditions — so you build confidence on bigger areas and real-world details, not small practice boards.

Training is delivered by an experienced plasterer with around 20 years in the trade, ensuring you learn methods used on real jobs — not classroom theory.

One course, flexible outcome: you attend the same 9 day practical plastering course, then choose how you complete it:

  • Attendance certificate (included)
  • AIM Qualifications Level 3 unit certificate titled “Plastering Skills” (+£100)
  • City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills (Plastering) (+£250)

You don’t need to decide in advance — you can choose the best option for you during the course.

If you are still deciding which route is right for you, you can compare all options on our plastering courses page.

£1,150 including VAT

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  • Best for: Beginners who want maximum practical training, larger bays, more complex plastering areas, and the confidence to complete real skimming, boarding, and patch/repair work
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  • What will I learn on this course?
  • What practical work will I complete during the course?
  • Will I receive a certificate or qualification?
  • Course duration, cost and start dates
  • Meet your plastering tutor
  • Student feedback
  • FAQs about this course

What will I learn on this course?

This 9 day plastering course is designed to teach you the practical skills needed to board and skim to a high standard, with extra time to practise on larger and more complex training areas. The aim is to help you build real confidence, better finish quality and a more reliable workflow for real plastering jobs.

You attend the same practical course whether you choose no certificate, the AIM Qualifications unit certificate, or the City & Guilds Level 1 Award.

  • Plasterboarding skills: measure, cut and fix boards to stud walls and ceilings, and create strong backgrounds ready for finishing plaster
  • Skimming to a high standard: apply finishing plaster to a range of different sized areas and obstacles so you can handle real jobs, not just flat practice walls
  • Beading & scrim tape: fit beads correctly and reinforce joins to improve durability and reduce cracking
  • Patch & repair work: repair damaged plaster and chased-out walls to a tidy, paint-ready finish
  • Background preparation: understand how to prepare different surfaces correctly and plan work to avoid common failures
  • Planning, pricing & quoting: estimate materials, plan a job, price work and communicate clearly with customers
Why 9 days matters: The extra time lets you practise more, skim larger areas, and learn how to handle the tricky joins, corners and awkward sections that show up on real jobs.

What practical work will I complete during the course?

This course is highly practical. You will complete all work in your own individual training bay using professional tools and materials in realistic working conditions. The focus is on repetition, progression and building a consistent, high-quality finish — not just “having a go”.

  • Apply finishing plaster to flat walls
  • Apply finishing plaster to walls with a window opening, including reveals
  • Apply finishing plaster to a niche (built-in shelf area)
  • Apply finishing plaster to an attached pillar / pier
  • Apply finishing plaster to a ceiling
  • Apply finishing plaster to a raked ceiling and angled wall/ceiling areas
  • Skim wall-to-wall and wall-to-ceiling joins
  • Measure, cut and fix plasterboards to a stud wall
  • Fix plasterboards to solid block walls using dot and dab
  • Fix plasterboards to a ceiling area
  • Fit beading and apply scrim tape
  • Complete patch and repair work to damaged walls, including chased-out areas
  • Understand how to cover artex where suitable
  • Understand how to board and skim an RSJ (method and approach)
  • Plan plastering projects, including tools, materials, timelines and costs
  • Learn pricing, customer communication and how to avoid common job issues and callbacks

You will complete multiple plastered areas during the course, giving you repetition, confidence and the practical ability to carry out plastering work to a good standard after training.

Ongoing tutor support is included — you can contact your tutor or the training centre by phone, email, WhatsApp, or visit in person if you have questions when completing jobs away from the centre.

Will I receive a certificate or qualification?

Yes.

On completion of the course, you will receive an attendance certificate confirming the practical training and skills you have undertaken.

You also have the option to gain accredited certification, including:

  • AIM Qualifications Level 3 unit certificate titled “Plastering Skills” (optional, +£100)
  • City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills (Plastering) (optional, +£250)
How it works: You attend the same 9 day practical plastering course, then choose whether to complete it with no certificate, the AIM unit certificate, or the City & Guilds qualification. You do not need to decide before booking.
Important: The AIM certificate is a unit certificate, not a full qualification, as it covers a single trade unit. To achieve a full qualification, training across multiple units or trades would be required.
City & Guilds route: This is a recognised Level 1 qualification. It is completed alongside the 9 day course and includes additional assessments during training and some home study.

Course duration, cost and start dates

Course duration, cost and start dates

  • Duration: 9 days (delivered over 2 consecutive weeks)
  • Location: Stoke-on-Trent (ST6 2DJ)

Practical, real-world plastering training: delivered by an experienced plasterer with around 20 years in the trade — so you learn methods used on real jobs, not classroom theory.

One course, flexible outcome: you attend the same 9 day practical plastering course, then choose how you complete it:

  • Attendance certificate (included)
  • AIM Qualifications Level 3 unit certificate titled “Plastering Skills” (+£100)
  • City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills (Plastering) (+£250)

You don’t need to decide in advance — you can choose the best option for you during the course.

If you’re still comparing routes, you can view all options on our plastering courses page.

  • Course price & options: £1,150 for the 9 day course. Optional qualification routes available — AIM Qualifications unit certificate titled “Plastering Skills” (+£100) or City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills (Plastering) (+£250)

Deposits & payment: A £150 deposit secures your place. The remaining balance is due four weeks before your course start date. Payment can be made by card, bank transfer or PayPal (Pay in 3 may be available).

Course start dates:

  • 13th April 2026 – FULL
  • 8th June 2026 – FULL
  • 22nd June 2026 – 6 places available
  • 3rd August 2026 – 8 places available
  • 28th September 2026 – 7 places available
  • 23rd November 2026 – 9 places available

Meet your plastering tutor

Your plastering training is delivered by an experienced plasterer who focuses on correct methods, repeatable technique and finish quality — with lots of feedback while you work in your bay.

What learners value most: practical demonstrations, personal guidance while you skim, and the “real job” tips that help you achieve a tidy finish in less time.

Student feedback

Student feedback

We ask all learners to complete a feedback form at the end of their course, and the results are published transparently.

Recent learner feedback:

“The most useful part of this training course for me was the opportunity to do a lot of skimming which was my main objective. I would recommend this course to others, good value for money.”

M Titley, 9 Day Plastering Course, February 2026

“Learning how to board, patch holes in plaster, tricks and tips and best working practices was very useful. I recommend this course to others, very interesting and fun. Great instructors.”

D Roden, 9 Day Plastering Course, February 2026

“Very practical and hands on so you’re always learning new things. The techniques of how to actually skim a wall properly were the most useful part for me.”

P Jackson, 9 Day Plastering Course, February 2026

“Great course, given me the skills to go out and gain experience plastering in the future. Staff are all friendly and very knowledgeable. Very good value for money.”

D Newark, 9 Day Plastering Course, February 2026

“The amount of practical hands-on time we had was the most useful part. It’s been beneficial to start practical work straight away and get feedback as we go.”

S Leigh, 9 Day Plastering Course, February 2026

You can view more feedback from previous students on our customer feedback page.

All completed feedback forms are also kept at our training centre and can be viewed during a visit.

FAQs about this course

FAQs about this course

Is this course suitable for complete beginners?

Yes — this course is designed for beginners and starts with the fundamentals before progressing onto larger and more complex areas.

What’s the difference between the 5-day and 9-day plastering course?

The 9-day course gives you significantly more practice time and covers more complex work, including larger skimming areas, niches, raked ceilings, dot & dab to solid walls, and more patch and repair work. It’s the better option if you want confidence to complete jobs away from the training centre.

What certification options are available on this course?

You can complete the course with an attendance certificate, or choose to add an accredited option:

  • AIM Qualifications Level 3 unit certificate titled “Plastering Skills” (+£100)
  • City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills (Plastering) (+£250)

You attend the same course regardless of which option you choose.

Do I need to choose my certificate option before booking?

No — you don’t need to decide in advance. You can choose whether to complete the course with no certificate, AIM, or City & Guilds during the course.

How does the City & Guilds option work?

You complete the same 9 day course, but with additional assessments during training and some home study. This leads to the City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Construction Skills (Plastering).

Do you provide tools and materials?

Yes — all tools and materials are provided during your course in the training bays.

Will I be able to do plastering work after the course?

You will leave with the practical skills and confidence to carry out plastering work. Many learners begin with smaller jobs and continue building experience from there.

What support do I get after the course?

You can contact your tutor or the training centre after you finish (phone, WhatsApp, email, or visit). Support is included and there is no charge.

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Gallery of work completed on our plastering course

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Our success stories highlight the remarkable journeys of our learners — from enrolling in our courses to achieving tangible, real-world outcomes. Whether it’s a career change, skill development, or personal growth, their achievements inspire us all.

Success Stories
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We value every voice. The feedback we receive helps us grow, improve, and continue delivering the best possible experience. Here’s what our learners have to say about their journey with us.

Feedback
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Choosing the right training centre is key to reaching your goals. At Construction Skills College, we provide expert instructors, practical hands-on training, and tailored support to boost your success. When you compare our course content with others, you’ll see we cover more in the same or less time. We achieve this by minimizing classroom sessions and focusing on real-world practical work—not small, low-value projects that don’t prepare you for actual job sites.

Choosing A Training Centre

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need prior experience to enrol?

No prior experience is required for our 5, 9, or 10-day training courses, as they are specifically designed for individuals with little to no previous experience.

For NVQ assessments, you must be actively working in the trade, as assessments are conducted in the workplace.

Are your courses more expensive than others?

There a couple of training centres who offer similar courses and qualifications which are cheaper than ours, but compare what is covered during the course.  You will find these centres teach you what you need to pass an assessment rather than also teach you the skills needed to complete work in the real world. If unsure please contact us and we can discuss the course content of both centres and advice what is best for your future aims.

There are also some training centres offering courses which are longer in duration than ours and cost more than ours, but they don’t actually cover more than we do.  They spend more time talking than doing.

We have designed our courses to be intensive and comprehensive with what is covered.  We appreciate time is precious and so ensure we fit as much as we can into each course and give you after course support as well.

The courses are fairly priced, taking into account the amount of materials used on the courses and the high level of teaching by experienced trades people.

You are investing time and money to learn and develop your skill set and we are here to help you succeed.   We have been helping people change careers and complete projects on their own properties for over 20 years.

Can I visit the training centre to look around?

Yes, you’re welcome to arrange a visit to our training centre whilst a course is running. If possible, visiting near the end of a course is ideal, as you’ll see the quality of work produced by people on the course.  Whilst at the centre we can explain what is completed during the course and answer any questions you may have.

What can I do after I complete the course?

After completing your course you could progress into employment or self-employment.  A number of our learners are now working for a company completing work related to trades they studies at our training centre.

Many more have progressed into self-employment, either in a trade specific role such as a plasterer or a plumber, or combining their skills to become a bathroom installer, a kitchen installer, property developer or working in property maintenance.

Others have progressed into further education to gain gas-safe qualifications, further electrical qualifications and NVQs.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss your aims after completing your course.

Do you provide any support?

Support provided when choosing a course

We will provide you with as much information, advice and guidance as we possibly can and if we are not able to offer you the course that best suits your needs or give you the information you require we will signpost you to somewhere that is able to. We do not pressure you to book onto any course and if we feel that you would be better suited to a course we do not offer then we will give you the contact information of a college that does.

Hopefully the majority of the information you require is available on this website but if you have any questions at all then please contact us and we will help in any way we can.

We would like to invite you to attend the training centre to view the facilities and discuss the course with both the tutors and current learners. We suggest if possible that you visit our centre towards the end of a course as people in general are always happy at the beginning of training and you want to make sure that they are as happy at the end of the course. When you visit you will be free to discuss the course with current learners on a 1-to-1 basis, if someone has paid good money or used limited funding to attend a course and they are not happy they will definitely tell you. If you visit towards the end of a course you will also be able to see the standard that everyone on the course has achieved.

One of the most popular comments we receive on questionnaires is that people did not expect to reach the high standard that they do on a course, it is also one of the most popular negative comments that we receive by people who are not aware of what we offer as they will say ‘you won’t be any good after 10 days’, if you yourself are unsure then why not pop down for a pressure free look around.

During Training

During your time with us every member of staff will do their best to help you achieve your aims. You will be provided with supporting literature relating to your trade and have access to further reading to research the trade further in your own time.

If you struggle on any element of the course then we will provide additional training at no extra cost to ensure that you reach the required standard.

If you have any learning difficulties or disabilities or have any physical difficulties or disabilities then we will support you throughout and this additional support will remain between the centre and the individual. The majority of the training courses are practical based but if you do have any concerns then please contact the centre.

We will also provide you with additional information, advice and guidance relating to progression routes available after completing the course including further training, finding employment and starting to work for yourself. Whilst on a course please contact a member of staff if you require any further in information. Whilst you are at the centre there may be other courses running so if you have any questions relating to another trade please feel free to speak to the relevant tutor – they are all here to help you.

After Training

We will continue supporting you after you have completed a course with us and you can contact us either by email, phone, WhatsApp or in person to discuss any aspects that you covered on your course. For example you may wish to contact us to clarify how to complete a job or how to price a job or maybe to ask for information on writing a business plan.

Your tutors will give you their contact telephone numbers and email address so if you have any questions at all you can give them a call. It is invaluable to have this continuous support available and will give you the confidence to complete work away from the centre.

Do you offer funding or financial support?

If you have access to ELC funding, we are an approved ELC learning provider.

Funding is currently available for our 6-week plastering course—please contact us for details.

Unfortunately, we do not offer funding for our other courses at this time.

Will I get hands-on training?

Absolutely, our courses are hands-on and focused on equipping you with the practical skills needed to perform jobs independently outside our training centre. While there is some theory included, it’s kept minimal and directly relevant to the trade you’re learning—not theory for its own sake. The only entirely theory-based course is the Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment, which is an online course completed at your own pace.

Where are your training centers located?

We have one training centre located in Stoke-on-Trent.  We are not affiliated with any other training centres in the UK.

We are honestly worth travelling too.  Nearby there are hotels, B&Bs, Airbnb, campsites, etc.  You can stay from £125 a week.

How do I enroll?

You can enrol by contacting us directly at 01782 837007, emailing us at enquiries@tradeteacher.co.uk, or using the “Book Now” option on our website.

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