Scaffolder

Scaffolder

On a scaffolder apprenticeship course, you’ll help provide access solutions or structural support that allows other trades to carry out their roles safely while working at height.

Scaffolding is a difficult, physically demanding, yet financially rewarding career choice.

Scaffolding qualification offers opportunities in several sectors both in the UK and overseas. After finishing this apprenticeship, you will have gained established scaffolding trade competence, allowing you to construct, alter, and dismantle various scaffolding structures.

Scaffolding is a hazardous profession, therefore this apprenticeship will educate you to be aware of your obligations to yourself, your colleagues, the scaffold’s end user, and anyone with whom you may come into contact while executing your tasks, such as other trades, customers, and members of the public.

What you’ll learn

On a scaffolder apprenticeship course, you’ll learn to:

  • Work in accordance with the appropriate British and European Standards, as well as National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) advice, such as Technical Guidance (TG)20 (Good Practice Guidance for Tube and Fitting Scaffolding Safety Guidance, SG4) (Preventing Fall).
  • Inspect and choose serviceable materials such as tubes, boards, and fittings.
  • Carry, hoist, lower, and use scaffold materials on a working platform safely and securely.
  • Inspect, choose, assemble, and install prefabricated beams into scaffold structures.
  • Erect scaffolds on pavements and in public places safely and legally in line with Local Authority regulations.
  • Adjust spurs and rakers to the appropriate operating angles. Attach the appropriate check fittings, droppers, and puncheons to the scaffolds.
  • Choose, position, install, and test the appropriate amount of ties to limit sheeted and unsheeted scaffolds.
  • Determine the materials required for independent and putlog scaffolds with returns, towers, and birdcages up to three lifts in height. To safely build scaffolds, put out materials, erect scaffolds, and overcome obstacles.
  • Determine the materials required to set up, build, and dismantle the construction safely.
  • Inspect gin wheels for serviceability before positioning and securing them, reeving, rope, tying knots, and operating the gin wheel correctly to draw up scaffold tubes, boards, and fittings. Take the gin wheel off and coil the rope.
  • Inspect the basic scaffolds before transfer.

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need:

  • GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship.
  • Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this before taking the end-point assessment.

Assessment methods

The End Point Assessment consists of two distinct assessment methods: 

  • Knowledge Test 
  • Practical Test of Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours 

Restrictions and requirements

You’ll need to:

  • be able to cope with working at height
  • have a good level of fitness

Duration, level, subjects and potential salary upon completion

  • Duration: 18 months
  • Level: 2 – Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Relevant school subjects: PE
  • Potential salary upon completion: £30,000 per annum

Apprenticeship standard

More information about the Level 2 Scaffolder Apprenticeship standard can be found here.

Apprenticeship end point assessment

For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page.

Updated on January 25, 2024

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