Apprentice Painter and Decorator

Summary

This apprenticeship is a work-based training programme where you learn how to prepare surfaces, apply paint, wallpaper, and other decorative finishes. You’ll gain practical experience alongside experienced staff on real jobs while learning about tools, materials, health and safety, and professional standards. 

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Painter and decorator (level 2)

Hours

Working pattern to be agreed at interview.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 2 November 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Typical workplace roles for a painting and decorating apprentice include:

• Preparing walls, ceilings, doors, and other surfaces for painting
• Filling cracks and holes and sanding surfaces smooth
• Applying paint, varnish, stains, and other finishes
• Hanging wallpaper and other wall coverings
• Using brushes, rollers, and spraying equipment safely
• Protecting floors, furniture, and other areas from paint
• Cleaning and maintaining tools and equipment
• Measuring and mixing paints and materials
• Following health and safety procedures
• Working alongside experienced painters and decorators
• Keeping the work area clean and organised
• Communicating with customers and other workers professionally

Where you'll work

Flexspace Office G 36
Newton Aycliffe Incubation Centre
Newton Aycliffe
DL5 6XP

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

Training course

Painter and decorator (level 2)

What you'll learn

• Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Select and use personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and dust suppression.
• Check and safely use working at height equipment for example steps, hop-ups, and podiums.
• Identify hazards and comply with risk assessments, method statements, control measures and safe systems of work and report to manager when required.
• Read and interpret information for example from drawings, specifications, work instructions, manufacturer’s safety data sheets and manufacturer’s information such as colour charts and notations.
• Ensure materials are used efficiently and sustainably including suitable disposal of waste.
• Prepare work area: remove and store furnishings, fixtures and equipment and reinstate.
• Protect and prepare a safe working area, surrounding surfaces and environment.
• Select and use hand tools and equipment.
• Maintain and store hand tools.
• Select, use, maintain and store power tools.
• Prepare internal and external untreated surfaces ready to receive finishing systems for example: trowelled finishes plaster or render, plasterboard, timber and timber sheet materials; metals (ferrous and non-ferrous).
• Prepare internal previously coated surfaces ready to receive finishing systems for example trowelled finishes plaster or render, plasterboard, timber and timber sheet materials.
• Prepare external previously coated surfaces ready to receive finishing systems for example trowelled finishes plaster or render, timber and timber sheet materials; metals (ferrous and non-ferrous).
• Prepare and apply surface coatings to untreated external surfaces for example brick, stone, render, wood, metal using a brush and roller.
• Apply solvent borne and water borne coating systems using brush and roller to ceilings, walls, linear work (skirting board and architrave) doors: flush and panelled and opening windows.
• Prepare and apply foundation paper: Cross lining around socket and switches, internal and external angles.
• Prepare and apply Wallcoverings: Free match or random match finishing papers, vertical hanging, around socket and switches, internal and external angle.
• Carry out minor repair for example third party damage or post application defect.
• Apply team working principles.
• Verbally communicate with others, applying construction terminology.
• Communicate in writing with others for example, internal and external customers, colleagues.
• Follow equity, diversity and inclusion guidance.
• Comply with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Select and use personal protective equipment (PPE), respiratory protective equipment (RPE) and dust suppression.
• Check and safely use working at height equipment for example steps, hop-ups, and podiums.
• Identify hazards and comply with risk assessments, method statements, control measures and safe systems of work and report to manager when required.
• Read and interpret information for example from drawings, specifications, work instructions, manufacturer’s safety data sheets and manufacturer’s information such as colour charts and notations.
• Ensure materials are used efficiently and sustainably including suitable disposal of waste.
• Prepare work area: remove and store furnishings, fixtures and equipment and reinstate.
• Protect and prepare a safe working area, surrounding surfaces and environment.
• Select and use hand tools and equipment.
• Maintain and store hand tools.
• Select, use, maintain and store power tools.
• Prepare internal and external untreated surfaces ready to receive finishing systems for example: trowelled finishes plaster or render, plasterboard, timber and timber sheet materials; metals (ferrous and non-ferrous).
• Prepare internal previously coated surfaces ready to receive finishing systems for example trowelled finishes plaster or render, plasterboard, timber and timber sheet materials.
• Prepare external previously coated surfaces ready to receive finishing systems for example trowelled finishes plaster or render, timber and timber sheet materials; metals (ferrous and non-ferrous).
• Prepare and apply surface coatings to untreated external surfaces for example brick, stone, render, wood, metal using a brush and roller.
• Apply solvent borne and water borne coating systems using brush and roller to ceilings, walls, linear work (skirting board and architrave) doors: flush and panelled and opening windows.
• Prepare and apply foundation paper: Cross lining around socket and switches, internal and external angles.
• Prepare and apply Wallcoverings: Free match or random match finishing papers, vertical hanging, around socket and switches, internal and external angle.
• Carry out minor repair for example third party damage or post application defect.
• Apply team working principles.
• Verbally communicate with others, applying construction terminology.
• Communicate in writing with others for example, internal and external customers, colleagues.
• Follow equity, diversity and inclusion guidance.

Training schedule

The apprenticeship involves 1 college day per week and 4 days in the workplace

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 3)
• Maths (grade 3)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience

Other requirements

• Full UK Driving Licence with the ability to travel to different sites across the northeast