Despite the relentless rain that made travel difficult and the day feel particularly dreary, the National Association of Plastering Lecturers meeting on 14 October enjoyed an impressive turnout. Hosted at City College Liverpool, the event brought together representatives from a wide range of colleges, training providers, and industry organisations, all committed to the continued development of plastering education and practice.
The meeting followed a full and well-structured agenda. The day began at 8,30 with a meet and greet session, giving attendees the opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, and settle in before formal proceedings. Following the attendance check at 9,10, the first major presentation of the day was delivered by Graeme Carmichael, who spoke from 9,30 to 10,30 about airless plaster systems produced by Knauf. His session provided valuable insights into modern application techniques and emerging technologies within the plastering industry.
After a short refreshment break, the programme continued with a presentation from British Gypsum between 10,45 and 11,15. This was followed by a guided tour of the college’s facilities, allowing visitors to see firsthand the learning
environments and resources available to plastering students at City College Liverpool. Lunch was served from 12,00 to 13,00, giving participants another opportunity to network and discuss the morning’s topics.
The afternoon sessions began with a talk by Keith Langton, who covered fibrous and heritage plastering, a highly specialised and culturally significant area of the trade. From 13,30 to 14,00, Dave Winchester and Mick Hargreaves offered insights on behalf of Lath and Plaster Magazine, discussing current industry trends and the role of traditional plastering methods in contemporary practice. The meeting concluded with an Any Other Business session from 14,00 to 15,00, during which participants could raise questions, share updates, or propose future initiatives.
The event was well supported by a broad range of colleges and industry partners. Attendees represented
Salford City College, Reaseheath College, Leeds College of Building, Lath and Plaster Magazine, Wigan and Leigh College, Hugh Baird College and Sterling Plastering, Nottingham College, West Notts College, Dudley College, KL Langton Decorative Plasterwork, St Helens College, Coventry College, Carlisle College, Craven College, Bolton College, British Gypsum, NOCN, and Construction EPA Co.
Overall, the meeting demonstrated strong collaboration across the plastering education sector. Despite the poor weather, the enthusiasm and commitment of all participants ensured a productive and engaging day that contributed meaningfully to the advancement of plastering training and the strengthening of professional networks within the industry.
Lath and Plaster 