Painting & Decorating Apprentice

A STAR DECORATORS LIMITED

POOLE (BH12 5BH)

Closes on Friday 18 December 2026

Posted on 9 November 2026

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Summary

Start your career in painting and decorating with A Star Decorators. Gain hands-on experience on live commercial projects, learn from experienced decorators and work towards your Level 2 Painter & Decorator qualification at Southampton 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)

Planned January 2027 rate for eligible apprentices: £8/hour (£320/week at 40 paid hours; £16,640 annualised). From April 2027: at least £8.31/hour (£332.40/week; £17,284.80 annualised). Annualised figures are not fixed first-year totals. Pay follows statutory increases and age/year eligibility. The age rate applies before apprenticeship eligibility. Breaks and required training are paid within 40 hours. Provider onboarding is unconfirmed.

Training course
Painter and decorator (level 2)
Hours
40 paid hours weekly, including paid breaks and required training. Normally five 8-hour night shifts starting at 8.00pm. College release replaces work within those 40 hours; the detailed training and rest rota will be agreed with the provider.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 4 January 2027

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

  • Preparing surfaces by cleaning, sanding, scraping, filling and making good.
  • Protecting floors, fixtures and surrounding areas before work begins.
  • Applying primers, undercoats and finishing coats using brushes and rollers.
  • Gaining supervised experience with spray application where appropriate.
  • Working with different paint systems and following manufacturers' instructions.
  • Assisting with colour, finish and quality checks.
    Correcting defects and completing finishing work under supervision.
  • Safely using and maintaining hand tools, power tools and decorating equipment.
  • Following site rules, RAMS, COSHH requirements, manual handling procedures and PPE requirements.
  • Keeping work areas clean, organised and safe.
  • Working as part of a team and learning from experienced decorators.
  • Completing workplace learning and gathering evidence for your apprenticeship.

Where you'll work

321 ALDER ROAD
POOLE
BH12 5BH

Training

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

Training provider

SOUTH HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE GROUP

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.

More training information

Southampton College has provided career-focused education and training for over 70 years. The college specialises in technical and professional courses designed to prepare learners for further study and employment.

The college is developing new Centres of Excellence with modern facilities and industry-focused resources. Apprentices benefit from practical, career-focused training alongside experienced industry lecturers.

The college also provides support throughout your apprenticeship to help you develop the skills and knowledge needed for your future career.

Next-cohort start, onboarding dates and attendance timetable are awaiting confirmation from South Hampshire College Group. As at 6 November 2026, the provider expects the next Level 2 Painter and Decorator cohort to start in February or March 2027; this is provisional. The 4 January 2027 date is an employment target, not a confirmed apprenticeship onboarding date. College attendance is paid within the 40-hour working week and replaces work time. The detailed training and rest rota has not yet been agreed.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4/C)
  • Maths (grade 4/C)

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
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Physical fitness
  • Interest in painting

About this employer

A Star Decorators is a director-led commercial decorating, spraying and restoration contractor based in Poole, Dorset. The company works across the South of England and on projects across the UK.

With 20 years of experience working on live sites, A Star Decorators delivers decorating services for main contractors, retail estates, facilities management teams, industrial and warehouse operators, and hotel and hospitality businesses.

The company works on both rolling refurbishment programmes and individual projects. In 2026, A Star Decorators is working on projects across major retail estates, including Primark, Tesco and M&S, through main-contractor frameworks.

The team includes experienced directors and decorators, with the business operating a director-led model. The company also works with specialist spray, restoration and DOFF professionals where required.

As an apprentice, you will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience on live commercial and retail projects, working alongside experienced decorators and learning the practical skills required for the industry.

A Star Decorators will provide:

  • Full-time PAYE employment and a written contract.
  • Supervision and mentoring from experienced commercial decorators.
  • PPE, appropriate site equipment and access to the tools required.
  • Paid college release for the apprenticeship.
  • Practical work-based learning across the apprenticeship standard.
  • Experience working on live commercial and retail projects.
  • Opportunities to develop your career following successful completion of the apprenticeship.

https://astardecorators.com/about (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).

On successful completion of the apprenticeship, you will have the skills and qualification to work as a Painter and Decorator.

Potential progression routes include:

  • Becoming a permanent member of the team
  • Continuing to work as a qualified Painter and Decorator
  • Developing specialist skills in areas such as spraying, restoration or specialist finishes

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOUTH HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000055538.

Apply now

Closes on Friday 18 December 2026