Leeds College invests in training
This September, the next generation of painters and decorators will benefit from new facilities opening at Leeds College of Building.
The College’s Painting & Decorating department recently relocated to their North Street Campus as part of a wider estates strategy, which includes the £13m phase 2 development at the South Bank Campus.
The new site includes over 30 painting and spraying bays and 20 wallpapering bays (all 3m x 2m), designed specifically for new teaching standards. A training area has also been installed for delivering Dulux Academy coaching as well as industry demonstrations and workshops.
Mark Howroyd, Curriculum Manager of Painting & Decorating at Leeds College of Building, said:
“We currently have over 140 full-time painting and decorating students and apprentices recruited nationally, who are managed by both the College work-based learning team and the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
“With this new site, we are now thought to have one of the biggest Painting & Decorating training facilities in the country, which is phenomenal. We work with some amazing industry partners already, and so these amenities can only enhance those relationships, the training we deliver, and ensure our students are skilled and work-ready.”
Existing students have worked alongside contractors to decorate the facilities ready for use in the new academic year. Moving forwards, learners will gain experience of using a wide a range of materials and surfaces on site and also work on a variety of domestic and industrial projects,
This timely development comes as the department has enjoyed great success in other areas such as national competitions, from ‘Johnstone’s Young Painter’ and ‘Painting & Decorating Association (PDA) Apprentice of the Year’ to ‘PDA Wallpaper Hanger of the Year’ and SkillBuild. Last year, Leeds College of Building student, Abi Johnson, won the ‘Johnstone’s Young Painter’ and ‘PDA Apprentice of the Year,’ while peer Lewis Boyle won ‘PDA Wallpaper Hanger of the Year.’
A new Decorating Academy also launched at Leeds College of Building last year with partner Bell Group, one of the largest painting, decorating, and building maintenance contractors in the UK. The Academy delivers training on industry expectations and employability as well as specialist topics such as working at heights.
The Painting & Decorating department is a member of the Association of Painting Craft Teachers (APCT) which have an influence on current curriculum and produce specialist training for staff to continually develop their skills and keep up to date with changes in industry.
Leeds College invests in training
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