Painters and decorators work on all kinds of jobs, ranging from re-decorating houses to applying heavy-duty finishes to huge structures like the Forth Rail Bridge.

On a domestic household job, painters and decorators use paint, varnishes and wallpaper to decorate rooms. They follow the client’s requests for colour, finishing texture and choice of wallpaper patterns. Their key tasks include:

• measuring surface areas to work out how much paint or wall covering they need
• stripping off old wallpaper or paint
• filling holes and cracks
• preparing surfaces with primer and undercoat
• mixing paint to the required shade, by hand or by using computerised colour-matching equipment
• applying layers of paint and hanging wallpaper.

Painters and decorators may apply more complex finishes to a job including Artex™, rag-rolling, graining and marbling.

On an industrial job, painters work on structures like bridges or ships, using abrasive blasting methods to remove old coatings before applying new ones with industrial paint spraying equipment.

Hours and Environment

Painters and decorators normally work 39 hours a week, Monday to Friday. They often travel from site to site, so a driving licence is useful.

As a painter and decorator, you will often work from ladders or raised platforms to reach high ceilings. In the case of large industrial structures, you will paint from a cradle or harness.

Paints and solvents give off fumes, so you may wear a protective mask or use fume extraction equipment on some jobs.

Skills and Interests

To be a painter and decorator, you should:

• have good practical and creative skills
• have the ability to work accurately and have an appreciation for detail
• be able to work alone and as part of a team
• be comfortable working at heights
• be aware of health and safety issues.

Entry

You do not need any academic qualifications to become a painter and decorator. Employers tend to prefer people with some on-site experience, so you may want to consider working as a painter and decorator's 'mate' as a way into the role. Once you are working, your employer may offer you further training in painting and decorating (see Training section below).

The two main college courses in painting and decorating will give you some of the skills needed for the job. These are:

• City & Guilds Basic Skills in Construction award: Painting and Decorating (6212)
• Intermediate/Advanced Construction Award in Decorative Occupations (Painting and Decorating).

Check with ConstructionSkills and your local colleges for more details about these courses.

A common route for young people is to train as an apprentice. Most apprentices start at 16 to 19, but entry may be possible up to 24 (see Training section for contacts). To be eligible, you may need some GCSEs/S grades in subjects such as maths, English and design and technology, or equivalent vocational qualifications such as Edexcel Introductory Certificate/Diploma in Construction, which includes options in painting and decorating.

Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

ConstructionSkills has information on construction careers and qualifications in Further Information; and the Equal Opportunities Commission is promoting the construction trades as a career option for women through its Know Your Place campaign.

Training

Once you are working as a painter and decorater, you will usually train on the job, with day or block release at a local college or training centre.

You can work towards NVQs/SVQs in Decorative Finishing and Industrial Painting Occupations levels 1 to 3. These are split into two main areas of study:

• painting and decorating – covering brush and roller techniques for interiors and exteriors, fitting and hanging wall coverings, decorative finishes and installing coving and centre pieces
• industrial painting – working on industrial structures, preparation of work areas by special treatments and abrasive blasting, application of industrial finishes including paint spraying methods.

There is an optional unit at level 3 for restoration and conservation work, covering normal painting and decorating techniques but also advanced specialised finishes and detailed replica work.

Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
By 2010, workers within the construction sector must hold a CSCS card or be registered with an affiliated scheme. Many construction firms and their clients already insist that workers hold a relevant CSCS card to work on site. To obtain a card, you must hold an NVQ/SVQ or acceptable equivalent and pass a health and safety assessment.

Your card is graded according to your qualifications and experience. If you have experience without formal qualifications, you can use On-Site Assessment and Training (OSAT) or the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) scheme to achieve a qualification. See ConstructionSkills in Further Information for more details.

Opportunities

Opportunities are good, with the industry expected to need  over 8,000 new painters and decorators over the next couple of years.

As a painter and decorator, you can work for a wide range of organisations, for example building and specialist painting contractors, local authorities and hospitals. Some companies specialise in particular techniques, such as Artexing or heavy industrial painting.

With experience, you can progress to supervisory positions or move into related areas of work within a company, such as estimating and contract management. You can also train to specialise in restoration work. Another popular option is to set up as self-employed and work on a sub-contract basis for organisations or private householders.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

New entrants earn between £13,500 and £16,500 a year.
Average salaries for qualified workers fall between £17,000 and £21,000 a year.
Decorators with supervisory duties or specialist skills can earn over £22,000 a year.

Overtime and shift allowances supplement income, while self-employed painters and decorators negotiate their own rates.

Further information

Tel: 0870 417 8777