The last house I refurbished I used a plasterer that came recommended as he was an instructor in a local college, him and his mate looked at the job and we agreed a price for two coats top to bottom.
They were rubbish, one coated everything and even argued the toss when I saw what they were doing and argued that double trowelling was two coats lol!
This is the sort of people training the spreads of the future!