Apprentice Painter & Decorator

POPLARS CONSTRUCTION LIMITED

Bedfordshire (MK45 2BB)

Closes in 18 days (Monday 20 October 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 2 October 2025

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Summary

Learn the art of painting and decorating in real homes and businesses—master wallpapering, surface prep, and top-tier finishes while delivering standout customer service.

• Wage:

  £15,704 a year

  Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Annual Salary

• Training course: Painter and decorator (level 2)
• Hours: Monday - Friday, Shifts to be confirmed.

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Thursday 6 November 2025

• Duration:

  2 years 3 months

• 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

We’re proud to be a leading force in the building industry - and now, we’re looking for our next intake of apprentices.

Join a dynamic team delivering high-quality painting and decorating services across domestic and commercial properties.

As an apprentice, you’ll gain hands-on experience in both interior and exterior projects, including wallpapering and specialist finishes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Carry out general painting and decorating tasks in homes and businesses
• Learn techniques such as masking, surface preparation, brush and roller application, and wall covering installation
• Maintain clean and tidy workspaces 
• Develop strong communication skills to provide excellent customer service to a wide range of clients

This is a fantastic opportunity to build a solid foundation in the trade while working on real projects and learning from experienced professionals.

Where you'll work

Glenmere Barn
78 Water End
Maulden
Bedfordshire
MK45 2BB

Training

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

Training provider

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

Training course

Painter and decorator (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• 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

Painter and Decorator Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• Math's (grade 9-3)
• English (grade 9-3)

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

Skills

• Team player
• motivated
• reliable
• trustworthy
• independent worker
• common sense
• carpentry interest
• hands-on
• passionate
• determined

Other requirements

Ideally the candidate will have their own transport and will be able to get to site locations in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas. Opportunities to team up with existing staff will be available but dependent on candidate locations.

About this employer

Poplars Construction Ltd is a trusted name in multi-dwelling projects, offering expertise from groundworks to specialist joinery and decorating. Founded in 2015 by Director Thomas Potter, we’ve grown across the Southern Midlands, Eastern Counties, and London, delivering high-quality construction services backed by industry accreditations including CHAS, SMAS, Constructionline, and Considerate Constructors.

After this apprenticeship

• Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship, you may be offered a full-time position with the employer
• The opportunity to progress onto Gang Leader / Site Supervisor

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MILTON KEYNES COLLEGE

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000339566.

Apply now

Closes in 18 days (Monday 20 October 2025 at 11:59pm)

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