It may come as little surprise to learn that apprenticeships have risen considerably in recent years. New research from the Department for Education has revealed that apprentices contribute £25bn to England’s economy over their lifetime – a much greater rise than the £14bn found the last time this was assessed back in 2018.

This new figure more than supports the government’s commitment to ensuring apprenticeships factor heavily in its Plan for Change strategy to create strong foundations of economic stability.

One of the six key milestones in this proposal pledges that 1.5 million new homes will be built by 2029, meaning that skilled painting and decorating apprentices could be more in demand than ever.

This is hugely positive news and a welcome shot in the arm for the painting and decorating industry. But what shouldn’t be overlooked, however, is the importance of equipping that influx of apprentices with the appropriate skillset and practical knowledge and experience within the working environment.

Balancing an increasing workload and managing a particularly demanding customer are just two crucial elements for painting and decorating apprentices to get to grips with. First-hand working knowledge certainly helps navigate those tricky waters.

Bolton-based Lily Moore was one of three winners in The Nation’s A* Apprentice Award launched by tradespeople insurer Markel Direct last year. She has been working under the mentorship of Andrew Hamilton of AR Décor for 18 months now, gaining a real-world insight into the profession.

And it all began with the primary and all-important stage of embarking on any apprenticeship – the initial reaching out to a potential employer.

“One day, my business partner and I had a missed call and received a lovely voice mail from Lily. She explained she was looking to do interior design and had been advised that she needed some work experience, having been told that painting and decorating would be a great option.

Our first thought was that it was very refreshing that a young person called us and actually left a message. We called her back and offered her a two-week trial. The rest is history.”

During Lily’s time with the business, Andrew has recognised the leaps and bounds his apprentice has made.

“Lily respects the time and effort it takes to produce a quality job for our customers. She knows it’s not just about turning up and cracking the paint tins open straight away.

Preparation is the key which is lucky for us as Lily absolutely loves to prep. Because of this, her eye for detail has improved so much. She can spot and rectify a potential issue without the need to ask for our help.”

But Lily’s time as an apprentice hasn’t just been a one-sided learning environment. Andrew himself has gained some key life skills from taking on a mentor-like role.

“The first word that comes to mind is ‘patience’. As an employer it’s important to realise that when you take on an apprentice, they may literally have never picked up a paint brush in their life. You must be willing to sacrifice your time and money at the start to help your apprentice progress.

I’ve also learned that you need to be a role model, both inside and outside of work. Lily and I have spent countless hours on breaks or driving home talking about everything outside of the profession. It’s been rewarding to be able to offer her all kinds of life advice when she asks.

I’m her boss in work but outside of work I’m like an older brother/friend who wants her to do well at life.”

Another young apprentice making waves and winning awards is 22 year-old Holly Duffy. Completing the first year of her Level 1 Painting & Decorating at college, she has now been working at a professional company for two and a half years and will be fully qualified by the end of the year.

Like many others her age, the ability to learn skills and earn money at the same time attracted Holly to the apprenticeship route.

She has wholeheartedly embraced this career path. Her brief time as an apprentice has already seen her venture over to Slovenia last November – with The Painting and Decorating Association (PDA) – on a humanitarian repaint of a primary school in Dol pri Ljubljana.

That firsthand professional experience has meant there’s elements which Holly has picked up and been exposed to that sit outside of the usual college-based skillset.

“I work for a company that covers all insurance work, so I have learnt how to treat fire damaged walls, water-stained walls and subsidence damage. This isn’t something you learn at college as a lot of it can be trial and error to see what works.

Also, having that ability to work on a variety of customers’ houses has enabled me to see all different types of houses/construction rather than just new builds or college practice rooms.”

Having a real-world job has also allowed Holly the opportunity to be involved in another fundamental aspect of the profession which she wouldn’t encounter in a classroom environment.

“I have to regularly communicate with customers to find out if there are any issues which have occurred, what colours they’d like and if there are any restrictions on the job – what can and can’t be done.

If any other trades are on site [working] at the same time, I need to ensure I’ve communicated with them to figure out where everyone is working and how we can work around each other in an efficient manner.”

It’s imperative that young apprentices recognise the importance of aligning themselves with an employer/mentor who will not only offer practical experience but are willing to allow them a certain level of autonomy.

This will mean that the next generation of this industry will not only be able to maintain high standards, but they won’t be overwhelmed by those hidden demands of the job.

That on-the-job mindset should also instil in them the ability to recognise and traverse those potential obstacles which could otherwise disrupt a seemingly straightforward assignment.

If the mix of thoughtful employers and willing, enthusiastic painting and decorating apprentices above is anything to go by, the future generation of painter/decorators are putting the work in to ensure that the industry is primed for the inevitable growth in this sector.