Painting & Decorating Apprenticeship
THE SELECT DECORATING COMPANY LTD
TOTNES (TQ9 6JG)
Closes in 11 days (Monday 12 October 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 28 September 2026
Contents
Summary
The Level 2 Painting and Decorating Apprenticeship is a hands-on programme designed to equip you with the core skills, knowledge and behaviours required to succeed in this creative and practical trade. You will split your time between on-site work experience with your employer and training at South Devon College.
- 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)
We believe in rewarding good performance. As your skills, experience and responsibility develop, there will be opportunities to increase your earnings.
- Training course
- Painter and decorator (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 7:30am - 4pm.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 2 November 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
This is an opportunity to learn the painting and decorating trade properly from experienced professionals while working on high-quality domestic projects throughout South Devon.
You will learn how to prepare surfaces correctly, use professional decorating tools and equipment, and apply a wide range of paints and finishes. We take pride in providing a premium service, so attention to detail, cleanliness and the way we look after our clients' homes are extremely important.
We are looking for someone who wants to build a career rather than simply have a job. You will be expected to arrive on time, work hard, listen and learn, and take pride in improving your skills.
You will normally start work at around 7.30am at a local job or arrange to meet one of the team for a lift while you learn to drive.
You will also be expected to keep your employer informed of your arrival, departure and break times and maintain a simple record of your daily activities.
- Surface preparation and preparation techniques
- Correct use of brushes, rollers, sanders and other decorating equipment
- Paint systems, primers, undercoats and finishing coats
- Woodwork, walls, ceilings and specialist finishes
- Safe use of steps, ladders and other access equipment
- Health and safety, including dust, noise, tools and equipment
- Correct workwear and personal protective equipment
- Safe working practices in customers' homes
- Professional communication and appropriate use of mobile phones at work
- How to maintain a clean, organised and professional working environment.
Our work is predominantly high-quality domestic decorating rather than large construction sites. We want to train you to become a skilled tradesperson who understands both the technical side of decorating and the importance of providing an excellent service to clients.
Where you'll work
LYNDENE
DRORIDGE LANE
DARTINGTON
TOTNES
TQ9 6JG
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SOUTH DEVON 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
Training will be on day release at South Devon College, Long Road, Paignton.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Painting and decorating involves working both indoors and outdoors and in a variety of weather conditions.
The work can involve using steps and ladders and handling decorating materials and equipment. Full training will be provided, and you will not be expected to undertake tasks you have not been properly trained and supervised to carry out.
We place a strong emphasis on safe working practices.
About this employer
We are a medium-sized painting and decorating company specialising in the domestic market. We are looking to grow our company with skilled, conscientious people who take pride in their work and want to develop a long-term career in the decorating trade.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
This is a genuine opportunity to build a long-term career with a growing professional decorating company.
For the right person, there is the potential to continue working with us after completing the apprenticeship, with the opportunity to develop into a highly skilled, time-served painter and decorator.
As your experience and responsibility grow, there may also be the opportunity to use a company van and take on greater responsibility.
We also encourage our team to continue learning and developing personally as well as professionally.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000055410.
Apply now
Closes in 11 days (Monday 12 October 2026 at 11:59pm)