Dryliners, or dryline fixers, put up internal walls in buildings using plasterboard sheets (drylining) and metal stud partitioning. They are used to divide large areas into smaller spaces, to cover up pipes and electrical cables and provide insulation and sound proofing.

The Work

You could be:

• measuring and cutting plasterboard (dry lining) to the right shapes and angles
• fixing the boards to timber or metal frames using special studs (metal stud partitioning)
• cutting holes in the plasterboard for doors, light switches and power points
• installing moveable wall partitions, suspended ceilings or raised flooring
• finishing the partitions, by sealing off the joints using adhesive or filler
• taping over the seals either by hand or using a machine (see Ames Taper job profile)
• spreading a thin layer of plaster over the sealed board (called skimming)
• sanding down the surface for a smooth finish, ready for decoration.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of company or organisation you work for
• the demand for the job.

There is a minimum wage for apprentices in Scotland. As of June 2021 the Building and Allied Trades Joint Industrial Council (BATJIC) rates for a 2-year apprenticeship based on a 39-hour week are:

Year 1 – £209.40
Year 2 – £278.68.

Please note these rates may vary if the Apprentice is 21 years old or over and has completed the first year of their apprenticeship. National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage (NLW) will apply.

With experience you could earn up to £19.00 an hour. Overtime and shift allowances can increase earnings.

Conditions

• You would work indoors at the construction sites of offices, shops or houses. The on site locations might be dusty and noisy.
• You will have to travel to the sites, transporting materials.
• You might have to spend periods away from home.
• You usually work a 39-hour week, sometimes with overtime.
• You will wear protective gear: safety helmets, footwear, goggles and ear protectors.
• You will have to lift and position large and heavy boards into place.
• If working with suspended ceilings, you might need to work at heights from cradles or ladders.
• If self-employed, you would need your own tools including lasers, impact drills and hammer drills.
• Work is often on a contract basis, for a few weeks or months at a time.

Getting In

• The normal entry route is through a Modern Apprenticeship with an employer.
• You do not always need formal qualifications, but some employers ask for subjects at National 4 or 5 including English, Maths and a science or technological subject.
• You will usually have to sit an aptitude test as part of the application process.
• A driving licence is useful and sometimes essential.
• You must hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work on construction sites. You must pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland

  Scotland

2021

6813

2.6 %

RISE

2026

6988

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

What Does it Take?

You need:

• practical skills
• a methodical approach and an eye for detail
• to be physically fit
• a head for heights.

You need to be able to:

• read technical plans and drawings
• measure, cut and fit materials accurately
• meet deadlines
• work alone and as part of a team
• follow strict health and safety rules.

Training

• Training during an apprenticeship is mainly on the job with off the job training. You would work towards SVQ Interior Systems (Construction): Dry Lining - Finishing or Fixing at SCQF Level 5.
• With on the job and off the job training, you would study for a part time construction course at college, which includes partitioning.

Getting On

• With further training you could work as a partitioner or ceiling fixer.
• With experience, in a large firm you could progress to a supervisory job.
• You might move into management.
• You might become self-employed.

More Information

For more information please see the list of organisations below: 

• Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS)
• Scottish Building Apprenticeship and Training Council (SBATC)

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.