NEWS FROM OUR MEMBERS
GROUP CHAIRMAN AWARDED OBE AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
THEY SAY THAT an investiture will be one of the most proud and memorable moments of anyone’s life, and Bell Group Chairman and Founder, George Bell, would most definitely agree. On 19 November 2019, George attended Buckingham
Palace for his investiture ceremony and was awarded his OBE by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William. Starting as a painting and decorating apprentice,
George has dedicated his career to building Bell Group and ensuring that their people and communities remain at the heart of the business. This award recognises his contribution to the
painting and decorating industry through Bell Group’s work to support communities, his notable involvement with the Scottish Decorators Federation, Scottish Enterprise and CITB ConstructionSkills to actively
promote apprenticeships within the painting industry, plus his contributions to the industry as a part of the advisory panel for Scottish Parliament. George Bell OBE, said, “To say I’m delighted is an
understatement, I feel very honoured to receive this award. I have always been passionate about our industry and ensuring a bright future for both those I work with and the communities we work in. I am so proud of the company that Bell Group has become and in my mind this award is for everyone that has contributed to that.”
A StorytoTell...
JANE POTTER WON a bronze medal in Painting and Decorating back at WorldSkills Amsterdam 1991, and now she’s now using the skills she learned in competition to help train the next generation at the Bagnalls’ Training Academy. Beginning her career as an apprentice at Leeds
College of Building, Jane first got involved in WorldSkills UK Competitions in 1990. Her tutor put her forward to compete and, after a successful national competition, was chosen to represent the UK on the world stage at WorldSkills Amsterdam 1991. With support from her employer, Bagnalls, Jane
underwent specialist training before heading off to compete against the world’s top young painters and decorators. “The competition was a whirlwind!”, explains Jane,
“Before competing, I was given special training by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB). We learned techniques used in previous competitions, which was above and beyond my day-to-day training but based on what I had already been studying at college.” Winning a bronze medal, she was able to use these
newly developed skills to help her develop a successful career when she returned to the UK.
If you have a story to tell, we’d love to hear from you! Drop us a line at
enquiries@the-decorator.co.uk
19 “All the training helped in the end”, she says, “When
I came back from competing, I completed my apprenticeship and became a contract manager. I’ve now been at Bagnalls for 30 years, managing two branches and helping to train the next generation of apprentices.” Jane continues to put her apprentices forward to take
part in WorldSkills UK competitions. She is also responsible for supporting the development of apprentices at the Bagnalls’ Training Academy. The Academy was established in 2004 to ensure trainees had access to a specialist tutor and learn real-life techniques with the latest technology to help their development. “Competitions are really helpful for young learners,”
says Jane, “they give apprentices a good background in the skills they need to do well, and they also help improve learners’ confidence, which helps them work under pressure. I make sure the training we give apprentices includes mini competitions to help them learn skills that they may not necessarily be taught in college.”
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