Do you have what it takes?
- Are you a painting and decorating student or apprentice?
- Do you want to be a part of Team UK, competing for your country?
- Do you strive to challenge yourself in the longest running and prestigious P&D competition?
About the competition
With over 150 contestants every year, this painting and decorating skills competition is the UK’s longest running and best-known showcase for up-and-coming painting and decorators.
Tutors and employers across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are invited to encourage their top students and apprentices to participate in regional contests. These put students through their paces, as they use Crown Paints products to tackle tests of skill, dexterity and accuracy within a tight timescale.
Take on the world
Every year the grand finale is held in the UK, this year at Milton Keynes Arena – a unique annual celebration that offers exciting opportunities in further education, skills and apprenticeships.
Finalists not only have the opportunity to win this unique competition, but also to represent the UK at upcoming WorldSkills competitions all over the world. With the ultimate prize of being crowned the best painter and decorator in the world!
Project Possible
As part of our Project Possible programme, we are dedicated to championing apprentice painters and decorators. We’ll continue to encourage, educate and support apprentice painters and decorators across the UK and Ireland by promoting and supporting the Crown Apprentice Decorator of the Year UK and World Skills Ireland national competitions.
Jade Oakes – Apprentice Decorator of the Year Winner 2022
Who can enter?
We have been supporting the Apprentice Decorator of the Year competition since 1979. It is open to painting and decorating students and apprentices right across the UK, provided they have the support of a lecturer, training supervisor or employer.
If you qualify for the competition and are interested in learning more, there’s no time to lose.
How to enter
If you are a student or apprentice, you should first talk to your lecturer, training supervisor or employer about entering the competition. Or, if you are a lecturer, supervisor or employer, then you should consider which of your students or apprentices to nominate and discuss it with them. Please read the competition entry instructions carefully here and complete the online competitor entry form. Applications for this year’s competition close on Monday 1st April 2024.
Meet the judges
Meet the painting and decorating professionals who will judge the competition.
Kevin O’Donnell
Judge since: 2002
Trained at: Reading Arts & Technology College
Ben Deer
Judge since: 2018
Trained at: Bournemouth and Poole College
Josh Thompson
Trainee Judge since: 2023
Trained at: Dudley College
Jacqui Hawthorne
Trainee Judge since: 2024
Trained at: Southern Regional College, Newry
Do you have what it takes to be the next Apprentice Decorator of the Year?
If you fancy yourself as our next winner, we would love to hear from you. Apply now and put yourself in contention:
