Painting and Decorating apprentices shine at regional competition

A trio of Painting and Decorating apprentices have represented City of Portsmouth College at the Southern heats of The Painting and Decorating Association Apprentice Competition in Plymouth.

First-year apprentices Michaela Gooding, Joel Martin and Rhys Appleton tackled an intense six-hour design brief for the competition at Plymouth’s City College and will find out if they’ve progressed soon!

They were supported by COPC staff, including Naomi Beer, who said: “Once brushes were down and we were lucky enough to sneak a peek at the finished work, it was clear just how exceptional the standard was.

“What stood out most (beyond the talent) was the camaraderie. Despite this being a competition, everyone supported one another with respect, encouragement, and genuine professionalism throughout the day. Every single competitor should be immensely proud of the way they conducted themselves – true credit to the trade and the future of it.

“No matter the final results, they are all champions in our eyes. This is an experience that will stay with them for years and support what we have no doubt will be successful and rewarding careers.”