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L2Apprenticeship2901 approved provider
The Level 2 Painter And Decorator, and the 1 provider delivering it.
Working in domestic and commercial properties and undertaking the decoration and protection of buildings.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices learn to prepare surfaces, apply paint and decorative finishes, and protect buildings in both domestic and commercial settings. Training covers surface preparation techniques such as filling, sanding, and priming, alongside the application of paint, varnish, and wallcoverings using brushes, rollers, and spray equipment. Apprentices also learn to select appropriate materials for different surfaces and conditions, work safely with tools and hazardous substances, and produce finishes that meet the standard required by clients and site supervisors.
Day-to-day responsibilities
A typical week involves preparing interior and exterior surfaces before applying finishes by hand or with powered equipment. Apprentices mix and match colours, hang wallpaper, apply specialist coatings, and make good any surface defects before painting. They work from specifications or client briefs, liaise with site managers or homeowners, and keep their work area safe and tidy. Most work is carried out on live sites, so following health and safety procedures and protecting surrounding areas from paint damage is part of the daily routine.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship qualifies someone to work as a painter and decorator across residential refurbishment, new build housing, commercial fit-out, and public sector property maintenance. Common progression routes include becoming a skilled tradesperson employed by a painting contractor, moving into self-employment, or specialising in heritage restoration, decorative effects, or industrial protective coatings. With experience, some move into supervisory or site management roles. Employers range from small regional decorating firms and main contractors to local authorities and facilities management companies.
1 approved provider
Sorted by achievement rate.
City College Plymouth
City College Plymouth is a further education college offering a wide range of apprenticeship and voc...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to a position as a qualified Painter and Decorator working across residential and commercial sites. Some completers move directly into a Decorating Operative or Finishing Tradesperson role with their training employer, while others join specialist contractors. Those who have developed strong surface preparation and finishing skills may step into a Lead Decorator role on smaller contracts fairly quickly after gaining their certificate.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, many qualified decorators progress to Senior Decorator or Working Foreman, taking responsibility for a crew on larger contracts. From there, two paths open up: a supervisory route towards Site Supervisor or Contracts Manager, overseeing multiple projects and client relationships; or a specialist track focusing on heritage restoration, decorative finishes, or protective coatings for industrial structures. Either route tends to come alongside pursuing an NVQ Level 3 or relevant CSCS card upgrades.
Where these roles sit
Painting and decorating work spans private housebuilders, social housing providers, commercial fit-out contractors, facilities management companies, and local authority property teams. NHS trusts and other public sector estates teams employ qualified decorators directly, as do specialist heritage and conservation contractors working on listed buildings. Small and medium-sized regional contractors make up a significant part of the employer base, alongside larger national maintenance firms.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Learning takes place on the job, with the apprentice building practical skills in surface preparation, applying paints and coatings, and finishing work to a professional standard across domestic and commercial settings. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice and employer confirm readiness through a gateway review, which checks that the required knowledge, skills and behaviours have been developed. Final assessment then confirms the apprentice can perform the role competently and independently. Assessment arrangements for many construction standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Apprentices should keep records of their practical work throughout the programme rather than trying to compile evidence at the end. This means documenting different surfaces treated, coating types applied, and site conditions encountered across a range of projects. Working closely with both the employer and training provider to track progress against the standard's requirements makes the gateway review much more straightforward. Good record-keeping from day one, covering varied real-world tasks, puts an apprentice in the strongest position when final assessment arrives.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with a dedicated trade workshop or training centre where apprentices practice surface preparation, paint application and wallpapering on real wall panels and substrates, not just classroom theory. An achievement rate above 65% is solid for this standard; above 75% suggests the provider is retaining and progressing apprentices effectively through a two-year programme. Check that employer satisfaction scores are high, since day-release or block-release scheduling needs to fit around live site work. Learner reviews mentioning hands-on time, small cohort sizes and responsive tutors are a good sign.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers running very large cohorts with a declining achievement rate, which can indicate insufficient tutorial support across the two years. If a provider cannot clearly explain how off-the-job training maps to real site tasks such as surface prep, filling, priming and finishing across both domestic and commercial settings, that is a gap worth probing. Vague answers about end-point assessment preparation, particularly around the practical observation component, should give pause. Providers covering a very wide geographic area without local facilities may struggle to support apprentices consistently.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What physical training facilities do you have for practical skills such as surface preparation, paint mixing and wallpaper hanging?
- How do you split delivery between off-the-job training and on-site work, and what does a typical week or block look like?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last two years?
- How do you prepare apprentices for the end-point assessment, specifically the practical observation and the professional discussion?
- Can you connect us with employers who have put apprentices through this standard with you?
- How do you handle an apprentice who falls behind, particularly around written or functional skills requirements?
- Do you cover both domestic and commercial decorating contexts within the programme?
Common questions
What are the entry requirements for the Painter and Decorator apprenticeship?
There are no fixed national entry requirements, so employers set their own criteria. Most look for basic literacy and numeracy, and some ask for GCSEs in English and Maths, though these can be worked towards during the apprenticeship. Applicants must be employed in a relevant role for the duration. Age is no barrier, though funding rules differ slightly for under-19s. Check with individual training providers for their specific entry conditions.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how is learning split between work and training?
The typical duration is 24 months, though the exact split between on-the-job and off-the-job training is subject to current government reforms. Apprentices remain employed throughout and apply their learning directly in the workplace, covering domestic and commercial decorating tasks. For the current off-the-job training requirements, refer to the standard's specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website at gov.uk.
How is the Painter and Decorator apprenticeship assessed?
Before taking the end-point assessment, an apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has met all the requirements of the standard and is ready to be assessed. Assessment models for many standards are currently being reviewed under Skills England reforms. Check the current assessment plan for this standard on gov.uk to confirm which assessment methods apply, as these may include practical observations, knowledge tests, or professional discussions.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
Larger employers paying the apprenticeship levy use their levy account to fund training, up to the funding band maximum of £10,000. SMEs not paying the levy contribute 5% of training costs, with the government covering the remaining 95%, again up to £10,000. If your business has fewer than 50 employees and you take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, the government pays the full training cost. Funding covers training provider fees, not apprentice wages.
What does a Painter and Decorator apprentice do day to day?
Day-to-day work involves preparing surfaces, applying paint, varnish, and wallcoverings, and protecting completed finishes on both domestic and commercial properties. Apprentices learn to assess surface conditions, select appropriate materials, and use a range of tools and application methods. They work to timesheets and site schedules, follow health and safety requirements, and are expected to communicate clearly with clients and other trades on site. Work spans new builds, refurbishments, and maintenance contracts.
What can a Painter and Decorator apprentice do after completing this apprenticeship?
Completing this apprenticeship leads to a recognised occupational qualification at Level 2. From there, apprentices can progress into senior or supervisory roles, or move into related trades such as plastering or specialist finishes. Some go on to study at Level 3, for example in site supervision or construction management. Others build experience toward self-employment or setting up their own decorating business. Achieving a CSCS card through the qualification also opens access to a wider range of construction sites.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 290.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.