Install curtain wall systems to form all or part of the external envelope of a building
Apprentices learn to install curtain wall systems that form part of a building's external envelope, spanning multiple floors and providing continuous glazed façades. Training covers setting out and fixing the primary aluminium framework, inserting infill materials such as glass panels, window units, ventilation elements and fire-resistant products, and applying perimeter abutment details in line with CWCT guidelines. Apprentices also gain knowledge of building regulations, health and safety legislation including Work at Height Regulations, risk assessment, product testing, and materials handling using specialist plant.
Most working days are spent on commercial construction sites, often at height using powered access platforms, scaffolding or harness systems. Working as part of a team of two or more, apprentices fix primary gridwork to the building structure, handle and position heavy frames and infill panels, and fit doors and windows into the curtain wall grid. They read technical drawings and works instructions, carry out dynamic risk assessments, complete system-specific checklists, and liaise with installation managers, main contractors, architects and façade consultants. Site locations can vary, and working away from home is common.
Completing this apprenticeship leads to roles such as curtain wall fixer, façade installer or external building envelope installer. Experienced installers can progress to installation supervisor or site manager positions, or move into quality control, project management or estimating within specialist façade contractors. Employers range from small specialist installation firms to large fabricators turning over tens of millions of pounds annually. Work spans commercial offices, education buildings, retail developments, leisure facilities and high-end residential projects across the UK.
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Completers typically move into roles such as Curtain Wall Installer, Curtain Wall Fixer, Façade Installer, or External Building Envelope Installer. Day-to-day work involves fixing primary aluminium grid systems to building structures, installing glass and panel infill materials, fitting doors and windows within curtain wall assemblies, and carrying out perimeter abutment work in line with CWCT guidelines. Most roles are site-based, often at height, and require IPAF and PASMA certification.
With three to five years of site experience, installers commonly move into Senior Installer or Lead Installer positions, taking responsibility for a section of a project team. From there, two tracks tend to open up: an operational route into Installation Supervisor or Installation Manager, overseeing full project programmes and coordinating with main contractors and design teams; or a technical specialist route, focusing on complex façade systems, blast mitigation or fire-resistant glazing, and working closely with façade consultants and system suppliers.
Most hiring comes from specialist façade and cladding contractors, ranging from small owner-managed businesses to multi-site firms working on national programmes. The commercial construction sector is the core market, covering office developments, education and healthcare facilities, retail fit-outs, and high-rise residential schemes. Public sector frameworks, including schools, hospitals, and civic buildings, generate consistent demand, as do large mixed-use regeneration projects in urban areas across the UK.
Throughout the apprenticeship, the learner develops the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to install curtain wall systems competently, all while working in a real site-based role. Learning is built up on the job alongside any off-the-job training arranged by the provider. Before final assessment can begin, the apprentice, employer and training provider must agree the learner is ready, a checkpoint commonly called the gateway. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can perform the full occupation to the required standard. Assessment models across many construction standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
From the start, apprentices should collect evidence of real workplace activity rather than leaving it until close to the gateway. That means keeping records of installations carried out, site-based decisions made, health and safety checks completed, and any project documentation handled. Working regularly with the employer and training provider to review progress against the standard's knowledge, skills and behaviours will make the final readiness check much more straightforward. Good record-keeping throughout, rather than a last-minute scramble, is the most reliable way to approach completion.
Look for providers with demonstrable links to façade and fenestration contractors or system fabricators, since this is a genuinely specialist trade where classroom knowledge alone is insufficient. On the FATP profile, an achievement rate above 65% is a reasonable baseline; above 75% is a strong signal for a relatively low-volume standard like this one. Check that the provider can evidence real site-based delivery, including working at height, use of access equipment such as MEWP platforms, and exposure to live curtain wall installations rather than workshop mockups. Employer satisfaction scores and learner reviews should both reflect meaningful on-site experience.
Be cautious if a provider bundles this standard alongside unrelated construction programmes with little evidence of façade-specific expertise. Vague answers about how they cover CWCT guidelines, Work at Height Regulations, or system-specific installation manuals are a concern. Providers who cannot point to alumni working as curtain wall fixers, façade installers or in related envelope roles after completion suggest weak employer engagement. A high enrolment number paired with a declining achievement rate warrants direct questions about why apprentices are not completing.
There are no nationally mandated entry qualifications, but employers typically look for some practical experience or interest in construction, and the physical ability to work at height on site. Apprentices must be employed by a curtain wall fabricator or specialist installation company for the duration of the programme. Employers set their own entry criteria, so requirements vary. Candidates should ideally be comfortable working in team environments and following technical drawings and work instructions.
The typical duration is 30 months, though the exact minimum and current off-the-job learning requirements are subject to ongoing revision under Skills England reforms. Check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page at gov.uk for up-to-date figures. Throughout the programme, apprentices remain in paid employment, applying skills on live construction sites while building knowledge of system design, health and safety, CWCT guidelines, and building regulations alongside their employer.
Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated. Check gov.uk for the current endpoint assessment arrangement for this standard. In general terms, apprentices must reach a gateway before endpoint assessment, at which point the employer, training provider and apprentice confirm all occupational requirements have been met. The endpoint assessment itself tests whether the apprentice can demonstrate competence across installation, health and safety practice, technical knowledge, and the behaviours expected on a commercial façade site.
Larger employers paying the apprenticeship levy use their levy account to fund training costs. SMEs that do not pay the levy co-invest alongside government, currently contributing a small percentage of training costs while government covers the remainder. The funding band for this standard is £14,000, which sets the maximum government contribution toward training and assessment fees. Employers taking on apprentices aged 16 to 18 may pay nothing at all. Speak to a registered training provider for current co-investment rates.
Apprentices work on commercial and high-end residential construction sites, typically as part of a team of two to six. Day-to-day tasks include setting out and fixing the primary aluminium grid framework to the building structure, handling and installing infill materials such as glass panels, window units, and ventilation elements, and carrying out inspections of their own work. They operate specialist access plant, manage materials safely, complete site documentation, and follow CWCT guidelines and project-specific method statements throughout.
Completers typically move into roles such as curtain wall fixer, façade installer, or external building envelope installer, often taking on more complex projects with less direct supervision. Progression routes include moving into installation management or project management within specialist façade contractors. Further qualifications such as IPAF and PASMA certification support high-level access work, and some progress toward supervisory or estimating roles within fabrication and installation businesses across health, education, commercial, and leisure sectors.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 539.
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