Digi-guide - Construction and Building Services

Painting and decorating

Painting and decorating students at the college can look forward to a range of opportunities including opportunities to take part in regional and national skills competitions, working on real projects (past activities have included decorating projects for various charities) and potential work placements to boost your skillset.

Courses available at the college range from Level 1 to Level 3. Progression opportunities include further study, apprenticeships and employment.

Painters and decorators work on practical-led projects, which help them to develop creative flair and industry skills.

Students practice in work spaces which reflect real-life settings, allowing them to be ready for work

Tutors are on-hand to offer expert guidance, helping students to learn skills from preparing surfaces to specialist decorations

Woodworms get creative at college

“It’s been a great project to work on. Every part of the planters is recycled from old pallets and fence panels – even the screws are recycled. All we’ve had to buy is the paint.”

Matthew Bingham, Level 1 Carpentry and Joinery student

Our carpentry and joinery students are regularly tasked with thrifty projects designed to hone their practical skills including creating useful items from recycled materials. Last year projects ranged from herb planters for the college’s teaching restaurant, to bird boxes and tables which the public can buy.

Woodworms get creative at college

A group of 17 male and female students on the level 2 painting and decorating course have transformed a family room, offices and toilets at Nottinghamshire Independent Domestic Abuse Services (NIDAS) – a charity which supports women and young people in the Mansfield area who are experiencing domestic abuse.

The students, who are based at the college's Construction Centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, have put their creative skills to the test by painting and wallpapering, undercoating and glossing woodwork, as well as applying some decorative effects to the rooms, which includes a sunshine feature in the family room.

The sunshine was designed by a level 3 painting and decorating student, Anna Lodge, who has recently won first place in the painting and decorating senior category of the East Midlands regional SkillBuild competition.

All paint and equipment was supplied by Wickes of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Jephsons of Shirebrook and Crown of Mansfield and the task took four days to complete at the NIDAS premises based on St John Street in Mansfield.

Lisa Haydon, director of service at NIDAS said: “I’m delighted with the work done by the students and it’s great that they’ve taken a personal interest in working on the decorating for this charity.

“They’ve worked very hard as a team and have been polite and professional in terms of working around our service users. The finished result is brilliant and it’s definitely brightened up our previously dated décor.”

As a painter and decorator, you’ll enjoy a diverse career – from working on new designs, to restoration projects, and your skills will be in high demand.

As trends come and go, decorators will need to stay ahead of the game, and up-to-date with innovative techniques and tools to help bring jobs into the modern day.

You might even find yourself working on intricate restoration projects – and restoring stately homes to their former glory.

Painting and decorating involves a lot of manual work, and you may be working at height – so it’s important to understand the health and safety regulations of your trade.

There’s plenty of competition in this industry, so having a qualification behind you may give you the edge on others in your area.

At West Notts you’ll learn the tips and techniques used in industry, practising your skills in our Construction Centre under tutor guidance, and on live projects where you can show off your newly-learnt skills.

Students also have the opportunity to take part in skills shows, and win regional or national competitions.

A qualification in painting and decorating can lead to further study, apprenticeships or employment.