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 200 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 at WorldSkills UK Live at the NEC in Birmingham – a unique annual celebration with over 82,000 visitors 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 in countries such as Brazil, Abu Dhabi and Russia. With the ultimate prize of being crowned the best painter and decorator in the world!
Apprentice Decorator of the Year
We have been supporting the Apprentice Decorator of the Year competition since 1979. Find out how the competition has evolved and meet the latest crop of competitors in our special 40th Anniversary Yearbook!
Gatis Celmins – 2019 Gold
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 are now closed.
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
Mike Thomas
Judge since: 1984
Trained at: Hastings School of Art
Sandie Webster
Judge since: 2018
Trained at: Lincoln College
Ben Deer
Judge since: 2018
Trained at: Bournemouth and Poole College
