Lucy Brushes Up in Competition

A Walsall College Painting and Decorating Apprentice has painted her way to the national final of the Dulux Apprentice of the Year competition, after impressing judges at the regional heats, held on Thursday 7th April at our Green Lane Campus.

Lucy Porter, who is currently studying on the first year of an Apprenticeship with Walsall College and her employer, Hankinson Painting Group in West Bromwich, used her exceptional painting and decorating skills to become the overall regional finalist for the West Midlands. Also competing for Walsall College on the day were Apprentice, Craig Smith and Diploma Level 1 student, Jack Baker.

The competition, which comprises of nine heats around the UK, is designed to test the skills and creativity of apprentices. The Dulux Decorator Centres’ Apprentice of the Year 2011 competition is open to all apprentices between the ages of 17 and 24 years, who are on a recognised painting and decorating course, studying an NVQ or SVQ level 2 or 3, alongside working in the industry

The competition aims to cover elements of painting and decorating, and each student were tasked with a series of applications. Wallpapering, stencilling, waterborne glosses and special effects, were all included in the practical heats and the overall winner will be selected for showcasing skills across the board.

As the winner of the Walsall College heat, Lucy Porter will now go on to compete against eight other regional winners in the national final. The final will take place at Bridgend College in June, where the overall winner will be presented with the title of ‘Dulux Decorator Centres’ Apprentice of the Year 2011’ at an awards ceremony.

The winner will receive £1,000 cash and a variety of other prizes, including £200 worth of Dulux Decorator Centres’ branded work wear, a Red Letter Day, Nectar points, Dulux training and a host of prizes for their college for all painting and decorating students to use. There will also be runners up prizes of £500 and £250, plus £100 worth of Dulux Decorator Centres’ vouchers each, for those finishing in overall second and third place.

Barry Hill, Curriculum Manager for Painting and Decorating, said: “We are very proud of our three students for competing in the Dulux apprentice of the Year competition and are delighted Lucy has secured a place in the national final. Lucy is a hard working and talented student and we will all be supporting her as she goes forward to the final of the competition in June”.

Lucy commented: “I’m really proud of myself; I feel I have achieved something exciting today. It’s a great feeling to have won the regional heats and I am now looking forward to testing my skills further in the national final, competing for the title of Apprentice of the Year”.