South Lanarkshire Plays Host To Industry Skills Contest

April 18, 2011 - PRLog -- Crown Paints, the UK’s largest independent coatings manufacturer, is holding its national Crown Trade Apprentice Decorator of the Year Competition with a regional skills contest at South Lanarkshire College on April 19.

In 2009, Mark Nevin from Livingston took gold on the WorldSkills stage in Calgary, Canada, after a world class display in the Painting and Decorating category.

He started his journey to glory as a competitor at the Crown Trade Apprentice Decorator of the Year contest.

Attracting national teams of talented young people from 50 different countries, competing in 45 different vocational competitions under one roof, WorldSkills takes place every two years.

There’s a chance another candidate from the Scottish regional heat could go on to pick up the WorldSkills gold medal again for Scotland in the future, as those who show prowess at the Crown Trade Apprentice of the Year competition will have an opportunity to be selected to represent the UK at the next event, taking place in Leipzig, Germany, in 2013.

Hoping an apprentice from Scotland can follow in his footsteps, Mark, who works for painting and decorating company Nevin of Edinburgh, said: “It would be brilliant if another apprentice from Scotland could get through and go on to represent the UK at WorldSkills in 2013.

“I was really nervous going into the competition, but if they treat it just like another job they will be fine.

“An important thing to remember is not to look around at everyone else’s work, just concentrate on your own. If you do the test piece well, you will go through, it isn’t about beating other competitors’ work, it’s about beating the test piece and working to the best of your ability.

“The competition is really good for young people wanting to make a statement and go on to a successful career in the industry.”

Recently Crown Paints announced it sponsorship of WorldSkills 2011, which takes place in London in October. The UK Squad for this has been narrowed down to three contestants, who are all being coached for success.

Brian Davidson, Crown Paints Group Chief Executive, said: “At Crown Paints we’re committed to investing in people and skills and believe this is fundamental for the good of the business and the wellbeing of the economy.

“We’ve been demonstrating this in a hands-on practical way for over thirty years by working with colleges and training organisations, sponsoring a national painting and decorating competition for newcomers to our industry. This initiative nurtures talent, encourages young apprentices to achieve their full potential, and importantly highlights painting and decorating as a skilled profession.

“We’re now delighted to be able to step up this commitment to a new global level by sponsoring WorldSkills 2011, and I sincerely hope that many other companies will follow suit and play their part.”

Find out more about the Crown Apprentice Decorator of the Year and Worldskills at http://www.crowntrade.co.uk/LatestNews/TrainingSkills

WorldSkills videos are also available at www.youtube.com/user/CrownTradeTV

Organised under the ‘umbrella’ of SkillBuild, the UK’s biggest vocational skills competition for the construction industry, the Scottish heat of the Crown Trade Apprentice Decorator of the Year is the sixth of 15 regional contests over the spring and summer months, which culminate in a national show of excellence.

At the College, contestants from across the region will demonstrate their skills and techniques during the preparation of a detailed ‘test piece,’ in order to impress the judging panel and win a place in the national finals in September.

This is the 33rd year Crown Paints has sponsored regional and national skills competitions for newcomers entering the UK painting and decorating industry - helping apprentices and trainees to achieve their full potential.

ENDS

Press release issued by Jane Shepherd, of Shepherd PR Limited. jane@shepherd-pr.com
01538 308685