Nine Students Head off to Dulux Decorator Centres' Apprentice of the Year Final

Nine lucky finalists, including City College’s Scott Quigley, have now been selected to go through to Dulux Decorator Centres’ National Apprentice of the Year 2010 competition, which will take place on Thursday 17th June, at Leeds College of Building.

A total of 96 students participated in the annual competition, as eight heats took place around the UK to find the most talented painting and decorating apprentices, and this year the standard was second to none.

Alongside Scott, the eight finalists, who were all lads, included Craig Martin, Giuseppe Manca, Francesco Sharp, who was also a heat finalist last year, Chris Cassidy, Aron Baker, Jonathan Williams and Lewis Roberts.

Due to the high standard of the competition, one runner up from the whole competition was also selected to join the finalists and this place went to Rebecca Pearson from Lincoln College – the only female student to get through to the final!

The competition has become well respected within the painting and decorating industry and with colleges alike. It aims to showcase the very best talent, reward great work and encourage more young people to consider painting and decorating as a career.

Bev Whitehead, PR and marketing communications manager, commented: “This is the third year we have run the Apprentice of the Year competition and this year the standard of talent has been exceptional.

“The final is going to be a tough call. Each student will be asked to complete a final piece which will comprise various elements of painting and decorating, including covering wallpapering, stencilling, waterborne glosses, and special effects and then a team of judges will select the winner and two runners up.

“Following the final there will be a prestigious presentation evening held at Oulton Hall in Leeds where the overall winner will be given the coveted title of Dulux Decorator Centres’ ‘Apprentice of the Year 2010’. The winner will receive £1,000 cash, and a variety of other prizes including a Red Letter Day, which will benefit them in their trade.”

In addition to the winner receiving a prize, there will also be second and third prize winners where they will win £500 and £250 respectively.