Painter & Decorator Apprentice
MR JAMIE COWLING
RAYLEIGH (SS6 8LY)
Closes in 19 days (Saturday 21 November 2026)
Posted on 2 November 2026
Contents
Summary
Join a small local business working within 10 miles of Rayleigh. Learn hands-on decorating skills on real jobs & work towards Level 2. Tools provided + free pick-up if local. Experience ideal but not essential – just a positive attitude and willingness to learn!
- Wage
-
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Painter and decorator (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 8am - 4pm.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 23 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
As a Painter & Decorator Apprentice you will work alongside an experienced tradesperson on mainly domestic properties, learning the trade on real jobs while working towards your Level 2 qualification. You will gain hands-on experience in all aspects of painting and decorating within a small local business.
Day-to-day duties and key responsibilities:
- Prepare surfaces by cleaning, sanding, filling holes and cracks, and applying primer under supervision
- Protect floors, furniture and fittings by masking, covering and sheeting areas before work begins
- Apply paint, emulsion, gloss and other finishes to walls, ceilings, woodwork and exterior surfaces
- Assist with wallpapering, including measuring, cutting, pasting and hanging under guidance
- Mix paints and prepare materials to the required colours and finishes
- Clean and maintain brushes, rollers, tools and equipment at the end of each day
- Help set up and clear down work sites, including loading and unloading tools and materials
- Follow health & safety guidelines and maintain a clean, tidy and professional working environment
Where you'll work
62 BULL LANE
RAYLEIGH
SS6 8LY
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
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 apprentice will be working towards the Painter and Decorator Level 2 Apprenticeship Standard
- College attendance at Colchester Institute (Colchester campus) one day per week during term time
- Functional Skills in maths and English, if required
Requirements
Desirable 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
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Presentation skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
Working on outside projects from April – end of September inside the other months.
About this employer
Hi, I’m a sole trader painter and decorator based in Rayleigh. I’ve built my business around delivering high-quality work for local homeowners, mainly working on domestic properties within a 10-mile radius of Rayleigh.
I take real pride in doing the job properly – from careful preparation through to a clean, professional finish. I use dustless tools wherever possible to keep homes cleaner and safer during the work. Because it’s just me, every job is personal. I work closely with each customer and I’m always on site myself, so as an apprentice you’ll be learning directly from me every day on real jobs.
I’m looking for someone who’s keen, reliable and ready to learn the trade the right way. You’ll get proper hands-on experience, work towards your Level 2 qualification, and be part of a small business where your effort is noticed and valued.
Company benefits
- Tools provided – no need to buy your own equipment
- Free pick-up if you live locally
- Hands-on learning directly with an experienced tradesperson on real domestic jobs
- Paid holiday entitlement
- Opportunity for overtime on Saturdays
- Supportive one-to-one mentoring in a small, friendly business
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
After apprenticeship has been completed a full-time roll is likely to be offered.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
COLCHESTER INSTITUTE
Colchester Institute - Apprenticeships Team
ci.apprenticeships@colchester.ac.uk
01206712043
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000061558.
Apply now
Closes in 19 days (Saturday 21 November 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.