Painting & Decorating Apprenticeship

COUSINS LIMITED

Recruiting nationally

Closes on Friday 30 October 2026

Posted on 5 August 2026


Summary

To work as part of the site-based team of skilled tradespeople providing painting and decorating support. Willing to learn a new trade and skills for painting techniques. Capacity to develop knowledge of painting materials and how to select, mix and apply them. Ability to work at height or in dusty environments (appropriate PPE provided).

Training course
Painter and decorator (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 2 November 2026

Duration

1 year

Positions available

5

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

  • Preparation to all surfaces including walls and woodwork (rubbing down, scraping, using sandpaper and removing old paint).
  • Fill cracks and holes with appropriate material.
  • Mix paint and other materials to prepare the right colour or texture.
  • Apply paints to ceiling, wall areas and all woodwork according to instructions with various tools.
  • Apply specialist coatings to areas including internal and external floors, walls, ceilings.
  • Measure and calculate areas for paint coverage.
  • Assist with reading instructions, specification and examining surfaces to determine work required.
  • Guarantee all safety precautions and quality standards are met.
  • Build on-site preparations such as scaffolding or covering fixtures.
  • To carry out any tasks within the employee’s skill and ability.

Where you'll work

London & Home Counties

Training

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

Training provider

THE SKILLS CENTRE LONDON LIMITED

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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

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

Skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative

About this employer

A company with proven track record of successful projects in London & South East.

http://www.cousinsgroup.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

  • Painter to Site Supervisor

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

COUSINS LIMITED

Becky Baker

hr@cousinsgroup.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000046599.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 30 October 2026