Project Summary

Challenge

While approximately 800 painters and decorators become qualified each year, most receive only a basic introduction to spraying, leaving many without the practical skills needed to meet industry demand.

This shortage contributes to reduced productivity, lower-quality finishes, increased labour costs, and a reliance on traditional application methods or imported pre-fabricated products. Spray finishing can reduce application times by up to 30% compared to brush and roller methods, while also improving quality, reducing material waste, and enabling more efficient repairs and touch-ups.

Solution

To address the industry's growing demand for skilled spray finishers, the Advanced Paint Spray Finishing Course has been designed in partnership with the Scottish Decorators Federation (SDF), to deliver a six-week, hands-on training course, with one day of in-person learning each week. The training will be conducted by experienced industry professionals, and the course will equip participants with advanced spray finishing and polishing skills that are currently unavailable through dedicated training provision in Scotland.

Each cohort will support up to 10 learners, combining practical application with technical knowledge covering equipment use, material selection, surface preparation, quality control, health and safety, and risk management. Participants will complete a knowledge assessment at the end of the programme and receive a certificate of completion.

Key topics include:

• Safe use of PPE and spray equipment

• Spray gun operation, maintenance and application techniques

• Material properties, technical data sheets and storage requirements

• Understanding paint reactions, defects and corrective actions

• Water-based and lacquer-based systems

• Project-based practical sessions tailored to industry needs

• Techniques to improve finish quality, consistency and efficiency.

The programme aims to develop a new generation of highly skilled spray finishers, helping businesses improve productivity, reduce rework, lower material waste and achieve a "right first time" approach to finishing.

Visit the SCENEgineering website to book a slot.

Outcomes

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