Coventry gears up for apprentice decorating contest
April 4, 2022

Coventry gears up for apprentice decorating contest

Please note: This article was published on April 4, 2022 and may contain information that is no longer current or up to date.
Apprentice holding a paint brush and painting a wall

Apprentices from across the Midlands will be heading to Coventry to test their painting and decorating skills at an event organised by national trade body, the Painting and Decorating Association (PDA).

Seventeen apprentices are taking part in the annual Painting and Decorating Association Apprentice of the Year competition, taking place at Coventry College on Thursday (April 7).

The six-hour contest offers apprentices from across the UK the opportunity to test their skills against their peers.

They are tasked with replicating a given design, testing not only their accuracy and skill but their ability to perform under pressure.

Neil Ogilvie, chief executive of the PDA, said: “There’s a substantial demand for painters and decorators and this competition is a great opportunity to raise the profile of the industry in the Midlands.

“The successful contestant will show a commitment to their craft, have an eye for detail and a quality application of the skills they have been learning as part of their apprenticeships.

“We are very grateful to Coventry College for their support hosting the event, as well as Brewers Decorator Centres for providing the Albany Brand paint for the competition, Purdy International Painting Tools for the box sets of brushes for each apprentice and TESA for supplying each apprentice with a rucksack full of their products.”

The contest is the first of three heats nationally taking place in spring. The North West heat took place in March, and in May the Southern heat will take place in Kent.

Finalists will be invited to the PDA Premier Trophy Awards Ceremony at Plaisterers’ Hall, London later this year, where the winner is announced.