The competition to find the UK’s Crown Trade Apprentice Decorator of the Year is heating up as the eight finalists have been revealed this week.
The talented competitors were judged the nation’s most promising industry apprentices after competing against hundreds of entrants in tough individual heats held at colleges across the country earlier this year. Now, the eight will go on to compete at the prestigious Skills Show, at Birmingham’s NEC from November 16-18, with a £1,000 first prize at stake.
The finalists are: Aiden Dearie of City Building Glasgow, Callum Bonner of Forth Valley College of Further and Higher Education, Declan Collins of Dundee and Angus College, Oliver Takhar of Bath College, Patrick Dinham of Newcastle College, Philip Orme of City College Plymouth, Lewys Rawlings of Coleg Cambria and Thomas Pawlowski of West Suffolk College.
The contest, in association with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), is the longest running showcase of talent for up-and-coming painters and decorators and this year celebrates its 38th anniversary. Debbie Orr, Marketing Manager for Crown Trade, said: “As a business, we are committed to supporting the training and education of the next generation of painting and decorating professionals". Debbie added: “We understand the importance of developing the next generation of industry professionals. It will be a major focus for the sector over the coming years and it’s something we’ve felt passionately about for decades".