Inside the Dulux Academy

TRAINING & UPSKILLING Inside the

DECORATE WITH CONFIDENCE

In the fourth part of our Inside the Academy series, Tony Pearson-Young – Skills Development Consultant at Dulux Academy – provides an overview of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 Painting and Decorating and Perfect Preparation courses

Many think that painting and decorating is easy; after all, how hard can it be to paint a wall? However, painting and decorating is a craft –it is something that you build up over years of practice and continue to hone at every stage of your career.

Completing the necessary training will give you the knowledge and skills needed to succeed and the Dulux Academy Stage 1 and 2 Painting and Decorating and Perfect Preparation courses are ideal. They are designed for: Those just starting out in the industry Tradespeople looking to add painting and decorating to their armoury Experienced decorators who want to improve their on-site efficiency with new techniques Anyone who is self-taught and looking to review their techniques

Efficiency = profit

“The first step in achieving excellence is understanding how to work efficiently”, says Tony Pearson-Young – Skills Development Consultant at Dulux Academy. “For any tradesperson time is money, which means that you need to avoid standing around waiting for things to dry. Planning a work order correctly is something that we cover in our Painting and Decorating – Stage 1 course to help attendees understand how to complete work faster and reduce time on site (and disruption to customers) without compromising on the quality of the work - helping them to fit in more jobs across the week and increase profits.”

Driving new business

The saying that ‘you are only as good as your last job’ rings true for all in the construction industry and it is crucial that you know how to apply paints and coatings correctly and to a high standard. A happy customer will increase your chances of positive word of mouth and drive-up new business and boost the likelihood of being called back for additional work.

Achieving top results is a combination of a wide range of skills – from the prep work right through to application and even the clean-up at the end of the job. Our Stage 1 and Stage 2 Painting and Decorating and Perfect Preparation courses will teach you the groundwork needed to deliver a professional standard job.

The following courses are designed to help attendees build their confidence in painting and decorating and create professional quality results every time.

Painting and Decorating – Stage 1:

This session is a chance to learn the basics of the trade, including what decorating is and how to do it well, as well as the tools you need to make the work as easy and efficient as possible. It also covers the basics of preparation (including the importance of filling and the tools needed to complete prep work) –and how to approach a painting job to maximise productivity. Time: 1 day Ratio: 40% theory vs 60% practical Cost: £150+VAT

Painting and Decorating – Stage 2:

looks at more advanced preparation techniques and methods of application

It’s never goodbye

On completion of any Dulux Academy course, you will be added to our exclusive Dulux Academy Facebook page where you can ask the team and your fellow decorator’s any questions –and even share your latest works to show off your newfound skills.

Attendees are also given access to The HUB –a flexible online platform where they can access their own personalised learning and networking experience 24/7 and find additional resources to develop their skills and knowledge further.

(including the use of lining papers and benefits of spray application) and the best practices that can improve on-site safety and project efficiency. Time: 2 days Ratio: 20% theory vs 80% practical Cost: £275+VAT

Perfect Preparation: covers the correct type of preparation needed for different surfaces, including the importance of sanding (and getting hands on with products such as those from Mirka), the different abrasives available and when to use them. It also looks at the role of dust extraction and how it can help to achieve a quality finish and improve onsite safety. The various types of filler and the correct application for each are also discussed. Time: 1 day Ratio: 40% theory vs 60% practical Cost: £150

4th IN THE SERIES

ABOUT TONY Having worked on the tools for 30 years, Tony is an experienced painter and decorator with knowledge to share. After completing his painting and decorating apprenticeship, Tony worked for a commercial painting company for 10 years before starting up his own business. After 20 years of running his own show, Tony decided to give back to the industry that he loves and join the Dulux Academy team.

As a Skills Development Consultant at the Dulux Academy, Tony is responsible for instilling his passion and skills in those that attend his courses. For over six years, attendees have benefitted from his expertise and real-world experience – and learnt how to put the theory into practice both at the Dulux Academy and on-site.

Tony said: “There are a lot of perks to my job, but the main one for me is seeing course attendees leave with a newfound confidence and spring in their step. In a lot of cases, people attend Dulux Academy courses because they have tried their hand at decorating but can’t quite nail a certain aspect of the job. Seeing that skill suddenly click into place and the grin on people’s faces when they achieve the result that they’ve been striving for is so lovely to see – and it’s why I love doing what I do.”

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE DULUX ACADEMY AND ITS RANGE OF COURSES VISIT: WWW.RDR.LINK/BAL020