East Kilbride student claims apprentice award for painting and decorating
An East Kilbride student has received a national award recognising their skill in painting and decorating.
Nathan Alexander, who attends South Lanarkshire College, placed third in the Painting and Decorating Association's (PDA) Apprentice of the Year contest after battling through two six-hour challenges designed to test precision, stamina and skill.
He was revealed as 3rd Junior at a glittering awards ceremony hosted by the PDA at Plaisterers' Hall, London.
Nathan, who works for Robert Wilson & Son Painting Contractors Ltd in Glasgow, was among 16 top scorers from five regional heats across England, Scotland and Wales to make it through to the Grand Final in Doncaster.
He said: 'The competition itself was a great experience and then to come to this amazing event and receive an award is a massive bonus.'
Both stages of the competition involve a six-hour challenge designed to test their precision, stamina and skill in scaling up, measuring out and precisely painting a complex design within the time given and were judged by Andrew Davis of the Association of Painting Craft Teachers (APCT) and Neil Ogilvie, Chief Executive of the PDA.
Neil Ogilvie said: 'The PDA's Apprentice of the Year competition is a demanding but ultimately rewarding experience for people learning the skills required for a career in colour.
'Apprentices are challenged to accurately scale up and precisely paint a complex design which tests their knowledge and skill in the craft, and we know they value the experience of both taking part in the competition and attending the awards ceremony in London.
'Nathan was a top scorer regionally and nationally, and I congratulate him wholeheartedly on the outstanding work that secured him third place in the Junior category of the PDA Apprentice of the Year 2025.'
The Apprentice of the Year competition was sponsored by Purdy, CITB and Johnstone's Trade and winners received their awards at the PDA's prestigious Premier Trophy Awards held at Plaisterers' Hall in London.
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Nathan Alexander, a student at South Lanarkshire College, placed third in the Painting and Decorating Association's (PDA) Apprentice of the Year contest. This came after he battled through two six-hour challenges that tested precision, stamina, and skill. Read more: Young trainees bringing new life to historic hall Nathan, an employee of Robert Wilson & Son Painting Contractors Ltd in Glasgow, was one of 16 top scorers from five regional heats across England, Scotland, and Wales, making it all the way to the Grand Final in Doncaster, He then went on to be crowned third junior, receiving his award at the PDA's award ceremony held at Plaisterers' Hall in London. Nathan said: "The competition itself was a great experience, and then to come to this amazing event and receive an award is a massive bonus." The competition stages involved a six-hour task where competitors had to scale up, measure out, and precisely paint a complex design. Their work was judged by Andrew Davis of the Association of Painting Craft Teachers (APCT) and Neil Ogilvie, chief executive of the PDA. Read more: Original Balamory stars to return to new island series after two decades Neil said: "The PDA's Apprentice of the Year competition is a demanding but ultimately rewarding experience for people learning the skills required for a career in colour. "Apprentices are challenged to accurately scale up and precisely paint a complex design, which tests their knowledge and skill in the craft, and we know they value the experience of both taking part in the competition and attending the awards ceremony in London. "Nathan was a top scorer regionally and nationally, and I congratulate him wholeheartedly on the outstanding work that secured him third place in the Junior category of the PDA Apprentice of the Year 2025." The Apprentice of the Year competition was sponsored by Purdy, CITB and Johnstone's Trade.
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3 days ago
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East Kilbride student claims apprentice award for painting and decorating
Nathan Alexander, who attends South Lanarkshire College, placed third in the Painting and Decorating Association's (PDA) Apprentice of the Year contest after battling through two six-hour challenges designed to test precision, stamina and skill. An East Kilbride student has received a national award recognising their skill in painting and decorating. Nathan Alexander, who attends South Lanarkshire College, placed third in the Painting and Decorating Association's (PDA) Apprentice of the Year contest after battling through two six-hour challenges designed to test precision, stamina and skill. He was revealed as 3rd Junior at a glittering awards ceremony hosted by the PDA at Plaisterers' Hall, London. Nathan, who works for Robert Wilson & Son Painting Contractors Ltd in Glasgow, was among 16 top scorers from five regional heats across England, Scotland and Wales to make it through to the Grand Final in Doncaster. He said: 'The competition itself was a great experience and then to come to this amazing event and receive an award is a massive bonus.' Both stages of the competition involve a six-hour challenge designed to test their precision, stamina and skill in scaling up, measuring out and precisely painting a complex design within the time given and were judged by Andrew Davis of the Association of Painting Craft Teachers (APCT) and Neil Ogilvie, Chief Executive of the PDA. Neil Ogilvie said: 'The PDA's Apprentice of the Year competition is a demanding but ultimately rewarding experience for people learning the skills required for a career in colour. 'Apprentices are challenged to accurately scale up and precisely paint a complex design which tests their knowledge and skill in the craft, and we know they value the experience of both taking part in the competition and attending the awards ceremony in London. 'Nathan was a top scorer regionally and nationally, and I congratulate him wholeheartedly on the outstanding work that secured him third place in the Junior category of the PDA Apprentice of the Year 2025.' The Apprentice of the Year competition was sponsored by Purdy, CITB and Johnstone's Trade and winners received their awards at the PDA's prestigious Premier Trophy Awards held at Plaisterers' Hall in London. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
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