Axis Apprentice Wins Painting & Decorating Association’s Award

Axis Painting and Decorating Apprentice Francesca Fordham wins ‘Paperhanger of the Year’ in the Painting & Decorating Association’s wallpapering competition.

Judged by PDA Chief Executive Neil Ogilvie and PDA board member Stuart Yates, the Paperhanger competition tasked apprentices with a gruelling six-hour challenge designed to test their precision, timing and skill.

Neil Ogilvie was joined by Dave Hope, from competition sponsor Brewers Decorator Centres, to present the awards at the Gala Dinner held at the Liverpool Hilton Hotel on 20 November 2021.

PDA Chief Executive Neil Ogilvie said: “Francesca demonstrated a commitment to her craft, an eye for detail and a quality application of the skills she has been learning as part of her apprenticeship.

She is a credit to North Kent College, and I am delighted that we have been able to celebrate her success at the PDA’s annual Gala Dinner.”

Francesca began her career at Axis as an Apprentice Painter in September 2018. She was 17 years old.

Collecting the award, Francesca said: “Taking part was an excellent experience and gave me the opportunity to show the skills I have learnt at college and on site. Being at college has helped me build on my skills and the quality of my work has improved.”

More about being an Axis Apprentice

Read about Fran’s experience as an Apprentice Painter at Axis here and about how she joined a team of 300 volunteers to conduct works on two township schools in South Africa here