Painting & Decorating

If you enjoy hands-on, creative work, build the skills you need for a career in the painting and decorating trade at Willerby Grove Campus, Peterlee.

Choose your course

Whether you're a school leaver or an adult looking to retrain, get hands-on experience and learn the techniques professional decorators use in our real-world workshop.

Painting & Decorating overview

Painting and decorating is a skilled profession that combines creativity with technical ability. It's a trade that continues to experience national skills shortages, so qualified decorators are in high demand.

At EDC, you'll build the confidence, skills and experience you need to progress into employment, apprenticeships or self-employment within the decorating industry.

View all Painting & Decorating courses by visiting the course finder.

What you'll study

Your course will introduce you to the core skills and techniques used by professional decorators. Depending on your level, you'll explore:

preparing surfaces and applying paints, primers and coatings
wallpapering, specialist papers and decorative finishes
brushing, rolling and spray-application methods
mixing materials and selecting tools
health, safety and site awareness
working to client specifications and professional standards

You'll develop your skills through hands-on tasks in real workshop spaces, supported by expert tutors with industry experience.

Our painting & decorating facilities

You'll train in a specialist painting and decorating workshop designed to reflect real-life working conditions. Facilities include:

individual work bays replicating rooms and interior spaces
dustless sanding systems with extraction
airless and HVLP spray equipment
modern tools, brushes and decorating materials
dedicated classroom spaces to support theory learning

These facilities give you a safe, realistic environment to practise and perfect your skills.

Learning beyond the workshop

You'll take part in a range of activities designed to help you understand the industry and prepare for work, including:

site visits
career seminars and talks from employers
masterclasses and demonstrations
mock interviews
work experience opportunities
student awards recognising progress and commitment

These experiences help you build confidence, develop practical understanding and connect with potential employers.

Where it could lead

Many of our Level 2 students progress directly into employment or into highly valued apprenticeships with partners through our Developing Futures partnership.

Depending on your level of study, you could work as:

a painter and decorator
a self-employed decorator
an apprentice with a decorating contractor

Fees & funding

Course fees vary by level. Full-time courses are free for 16 to 18-year-olds. Adult students may also be eligible for funding depending on circumstances.

To find out more, check our Course Fees & Funding page.