Nationwide Search for Top Painting and Decorating Apprentice Comes to Plymouth

The search is on for the next Dulux Decorator Centres' Apprentice of the Year, and the nationwide competition comes to City College Plymouth, on Tuesday 21 April.

Following the success of the 2008 competition, the UK's leading decorating specialist is appealing to all South West painting and decorating companies and colleges to put forward their star apprentices, in what is set to be the 'X Factor' of all painting and decorating competitions.

The Dulux Decorator Centres' Apprentice of the Year 2009 competition is open to apprentices aged between 17 and 24 years of age and studying an NVQ level 2 or 3, alongside working in the industry.

The competition, which consists of nine regional heats, aims to provide painting and decorating students with a challenging, but fun and practical competition. Each student will be asked to complete a series of practical applications - wallpapering, stencilling, waterborne glosses, and special effects.

The winner of the South West heat will then compete against eight other regional winners in a final, which is taking place at Stoke-on-Trent College on Thursday 11 June and is where the overall winner will be given the coveted title Dulux Decorator Centres' Apprentice of the Year 2009.

Nicky Harwood, store manager of the Plymouth Dulux Decorator Centre on Regent Street, said: "The 2008 Apprentice of the Year competition was a huge success and we want the 2009 competition to be even bigger and better. This is a great opportunity for local apprentices to showcase their talent and make a name for themselves on a national level. The prize on offer will set up any apprentice for life as they embark on a career in the industry."

The winner will receive £1,000 cash and a variety of other prizes, plus the student's winning college will win a series of prizes for all painting and decorating students to use. There will also be runners up prizes of £500 and £250, plus £100 worth of Dulux Decorator Centres vouchers each, for those finishing in overall second and third place. Individual regional heat winners will win £100 each, a certificate and a DDC goody bag packed full of fantastic products donated by DDC's suppliers.

The deadline for entries into the regional heats is Friday 20 February and all applicants should contact their lecturer and register through their painting and decorating college.