Tabitha, Painting and Decorating Apprentice

Paint cans in the workshop and The Bournemouth & Poole College

Tabitha, age 18, Painting and Decorating Apprentice

"I can still be creative and I get real satisfaction seeing a room completely change"

I sort of fell into the industry.  I didn’t know anything about Apprenticeships until I was offered to do one through a company that a family friend had introduced me to.  So now I work 4 days a week decorating new properties and have 1 day a week at college.

The Apprenticeship enables me to still be creative which I really enjoy and there is a real satisfaction of seeing a room go from being dark and dingy to bright and pretty.  And being a female working in a traditionally male dominated industry has never phased me.  I grew up with 3 brothers so my main focus is getting the job done and to the highest standard.  Male or female, we’re equally capable.  There is the banter but I’m ok with that.  I’ve been allowed to grow and develop which is great.

The best part about an Apprenticeship is that working on a construction site allows me to learn bits about the other trades.  When I’ve finished I’m thinking of doing an architecture course.  The Apprenticeship means I have experience in the trades and after another year I will have architecture experience. Then I’m hoping to go to university.

I’d really like to go into home development, purchasing properties and renovating them.  This Apprenticeship has taught me how to listen, pay attention and to work hard.  I would totally recommend an Apprenticeship to anyone.  It’s a great experience and you can never go wrong by having a trade to fall back on.