Wallpaper hanging champs announced


y Clockwise from top left; Abbie Johnson, Jessica Mays, Adam Knowles and Mitchell Scott with Neil Ogilvie during the final heats at The Hub in Doncaster.


FOUR APPRENTICES ARE on a roll after being crowned the nation’s top wallpaper hangers. Mitchell Scott and Adam Knowles, both 18, took the top two places at the Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year competition. Senior Apprentice Paperhanger of the Year was


awarded to Mitchell with Jessica Mays placed as his runner-up, and Adam Knowles came out on top in the junior category, with Abbie Johnson coming in a close second. Mitchell ’s success comes a year after he won the Junior title. Studying towards an


NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating at The Hub in Doncaster, the apprentice from Bircotes also works for M. Hancock Painter and Decorator. He said, “The competition is so realistic and reflects everyday working situations,


including the relationships you build and the pressure you’re under. The hardest part for me were the inlay panels and I definitely wasn’t confident that I’d won.” It was the first time that 19-year old Jessica,


from Dewsbury, had taken part in the competition who works for Leeds-based Medusa Décor, and attends Leeds College of Building. Six apprentices took to the stage in the junior


category, and were required to wallpaper a three-sided booth. Winner Adam Knowles, from St Helens, is studying towards an NVQ Level 2 in Painting and Decorating at St Helens College and is employed by Bagnalls North West. He said, “This is the first time I’ve entered the


competition and it’s a brilliant feeling to have won, especially as my girlfriend was there when they announced the winners. Bagnalls are really proud of my success too and I’m planning to take part in the senior level contest next year.” Runner-up Abbie Johnson from Cleckheaton,


is currently studying towards an NVQ Level 2 at the Leeds College of Building as well as working for Bradford Council.


y Simon Walmsley from Brewers and Stuart Yates, PDA National President, present Mitchell Scott (above) and Adam Knowles (right) with their prizes during the National Conference.


Neil celebrates landmark anniversary


OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE, Neil Ogilvie, was presented with a bottle of champagne by Stuart Yates, National President, to celebrate the landmark anniversary of 40 years in the trade. The presentation was carried out at the PDA’s Gala Dinner, held as part of the Association’s conference weekend in Bristol. Neil started out in the industry in 1977 as an


apprentice decorator, working for his family’s long-established business in Wakefield. In four decades his career has seen him


move from the tools to head up the UK’s largest trade body for professional painters and decorators. Neil said, “I left comprehensive school on


the Friday and was raring to go in white overalls on the following Monday morning. The job gives great satisfaction. It’s a great feeling to start and finish projects and be able to stand back and think ‘yes,’ I’ve achieved that amazing result. “It’s also been really interesting to sample


all of the new products which are out there on the market now. The last 10 to 15 years have been a time of real innovation in product development. For the future, Neil ’s role at the PDA


includes a strong focus on raising awareness of the opportunities in the trade for both its members and to raise the Association’s public profile. Working more closely with colleges, training providers and manufacturers is also on his agenda. Neil added, “We really have to try and


promote our industry to the young people of today and let them know that they can achieve a stable, interesting and well-respected career as a professional painter and decorator. “It has been an amazing career over the last


40 years. It’s all been very positive for me and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute.”


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