Dry Lining Fixer
Fix plasterboard to create internal walls, ceilings, and partition systems in new-build and refurbishment projects — the dominant method of internal construction in modern UK buildings.
High
Low
2–3 years via apprenticeship; direct entry with on-the-job employer training is also common, particularly for experienced construction workers
Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Dry Lining; CSCS card required for site access
common
What you do
Dry lining fixers (also called dry liners or partitioning fixers) install plasterboard-based internal wall, ceiling, and partition systems. Work involves erecting metal stud and track framing, fixing and cutting plasterboard sheets, building fire-rated partitions (up to 4-hour fire resistance), acoustic partition systems, and suspended ceiling grids. On large commercial projects you work from drawings specifying partition types, heights, and fire ratings; on residential work you typically follow a site layout with the foreman. Some dry liners also carry out tape-and-joint finishing work (taping scrim over joints and applying jointing compound for a seamless finish) — this combined boarding-and-finishing role commands higher rates. Dry lining is standard in all modern commercial construction and increasingly dominant in residential new-build due to its speed, flexibility, and the ability to integrate acoustic, thermal, and fire performance into the system. A Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Dry Lining is the recognised qualification; a CSCS card is required for site access.
Why this career is resilient
Dry lining is the construction method of choice for internal walls and ceilings in virtually every new commercial and residential building in the UK. The CITB consistently identifies dry lining as one of the most acutely understaffed trades, with vacancy rates persistently above the construction sector average. The UK's major housebuilding and commercial development programmes, combined with active refurbishment of office and public sector buildings, keep demand high. The trade is site-specific and cannot be performed remotely — each sheet must be measured, cut, and fixed by hand. Self-employment is common, with experienced dry liners able to price and sub-contract partition packages directly.
A typical day
Start on a commercial office fit-out: set out metal track positions from the drawing, fix floor and ceiling track, erect studs at 600mm centres, then fix 15mm fire-rated plasterboard to both faces for a demountable partition system. Afternoon involves building a full-height partition with acoustic quilt infill in a meeting room area, coordinating around the mechanical and electrical first-fix cabling already run through the ceiling void. End of day, snag a section of boarding where studs were not at the correct centres and refix.
Routes in
Apprenticeship
Earn while you learn: work with an employer and study part-time, leading to a nationally recognised qualification. Typically funded by the government and your employer.
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Trainee and apprentice dry liners earn £22,000–£28,000. Experienced dry liners earn £32,000–£45,000. Self-employed and contract dry liners earn £40,000–£60,000+. Piece-rate working on large commercial projects can significantly increase weekly take-home for productive fixers.
Training costs: Apprenticeship: no upfront cost. CSCS card required (approximately £50 test + card). Level 2 NVQ via college or on-programme assessment: usually employer or CITB funded. Basic dry lining tools (screwgun, stilts, board lifter): £500–£1,200 for self-employed work.