Apprentice Painter and Decorator

Apprentice Painter & Decorator Salary

Annual salary: up to £28,186.33

Painting and Decorating (Level
2)

Leeds

Fixed Term Apprenticeship

Age 16–18: £7.96 per hour — 40 hours per week (including time at college)

Age 19–20: £11.06 per hour — 42.5 hours per week (including time at college)

Age 21+: £12.21 per hour (rising to £12.71 in April) — 42.5 hours per week (including time at college)

Leeds College of Building

You will join Mears Group in the week commencing 03/08/2026, The programme has an expected duration of approximately 24 months.

Apprenticeships are an underpinning part of Mears’ philosophy; we are committed to developing the next generation of our workforce, many of our most senior people started their working life as an apprentice.

Whether you are fresh out of school or college or looking for a complete career change, Mears can offer you a great foundation to your future career and beyond.

All our Apprentices are paid above the national minimum wage, and you’ll be paid for your normal working hours plus your attendance at college, with the opportunity to get real life experiences such as working in people’s homes, getting involved in community projects and improving people’s lives by being customer focused.

As a Painter and Decorator, you will have the skills and knowledge to work out what materials are needed for a particular project by taking measurements and looking at job specifications and drawings. You will be responsible for removing old paint and paper, preparing surfaces by fixing woodwork, filling, and sealing holes, cracks and joints and applying wallpaper, paints, stains, and varnishes using brushes, rollers and spraying equipment.

• Preparing internal and external untreated surfaces ready to receive finishing systems e.g. trowelled finishes plaster or render, plasterboard, timber and timber sheet materials; metals (ferrous and non-ferrous).
• Preparing internal and external previously coated surfaces ready to receive finishing systems e.g. trowelled finishes plaster or render, plasterboard, timber and timber sheet materials.
• Preparing and applying surface coatings to untreated external surfaces e.g. brick, stone, render, wood, metal using a brush and roller.
• Applying solvent borne and water borne coating systems using brush and roller to ceilings, walls, linear work (skirting board and architrave) doors: flush and panelled and opening windows.
• Preparing and applying foundation paper:
  Cross lining or vertical hanging around socket and switches, internal and external angles.

• The ability to travel to your college provider and to your branch when required.
• A genuine desire to learn and develop strong technical knowledge, including the skills, technology, and safety procedures needed to carry out the full range of tasks.
• Strong communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain positive customer and client relationships.
• Please note due to the nature of the role, successful applicants must complete a basic maths and English assessment.

• Tools, Chromebook, and uniform supplied.
• An industry‑recognised qualification.
• 25 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• £250 contribution towards driving lessons.
• Annual Mears Fun Day - a company‑wide celebration as a thank‑you from the Executive Team.
• Support from Mears Group Apprentice Ambassadors.
• Apprenticeship events and reward trips.
• Staff perks through Mears Rewards - including discounts on weekly groceries (up to 10%), holidays, eye‑test vouchers, Share Save scheme, and more.

• All applicants must submit their CV and complete the apprenticeship questionnaire via the Mears Careers website.
• If shortlisted, you will be contacted to confirm whether you have been selected for the next stage - this may be an assessment centre or an individual interview.
• Please note:
  
  as part of the selection process, you will be required to complete a basic maths and English test, similar to the assessments needed…