Apprentice Painter and Decorator

IAN LAMB DECORATING LIMITED

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE (NE27 0JX)

Closes in 10 days (Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 19 August 2026

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Summary

This apprenticeship is a work-based training programme where you learn how to prepare surfaces, apply paint, wallpaper, and other decorative finishes. You’ll gain practical experience alongside experienced staff on real jobs while learning about tools, materials, health and safety, and professional standards. 

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Painter and decorator (level 2)
Hours
Working pattern to be agreed at interview.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 5 October 2026

Duration

2 years

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

Typical workplace roles for a painting and decorating apprentice include:

  • Preparing walls, ceilings, doors, and other surfaces for painting
  • Filling cracks and holes and sanding surfaces smooth
  • Applying paint, varnish, stains, and other finishes
  • Hanging wallpaper and other wall coverings
  • Using brushes, rollers, and spraying equipment safely
  • Protecting floors, furniture, and other areas from paint
  • Cleaning and maintaining tools and equipment
  • Measuring and mixing paints and materials
  • Following health and safety procedures
  • Working alongside experienced painters and decorators
  • Keeping the work area clean and organised
  • Communicating with customers and other workers professionally

Where you'll work

15 SANDON CLOSE
BACKWORTH
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
NE27 0JX

Training

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

Training provider

EAST DURHAM 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

The apprenticeship involves 1 college day per week and 4 days in the workplace

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 3)
  • Maths (grade 3)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience

Other requirements

  • Full UK Driving Licence with the ability to travel to different sites across the northeast

About this employer

Ian Lamb Decorating is a painting and decorating company that provides professional painting, wallpapering, and decorating services for homes, businesses, and other buildings. It usually has a team of skilled decorators who work on projects of different sizes, focusing on quality, customer service, health and safety, and completing work on time.

After this apprenticeship

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

  • Possibility of permanent full time employment after completion of the apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

EAST DURHAM COLLEGE

Sarah English

sarah.english@eastdurham.ac.uk

0191 5188262

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000049055.

Apply now

Closes in 10 days (Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 11:59pm)