The Painting & Decorating Association is holding its national competition at Preston College this year—the first time the event takes place at a college venue. The shift marks a deliberate move to anchor the competition within the vocational education system rather than relying solely on commercial or industry-hosted locations.
Preston College's decision to host reflects growing institutional recognition of painting and decorating as a skilled trade requiring formal training pathways. The college already operates construction and trades programmes, making it a natural fit for the PDA's competitive showcase of craftspeople across the UK.
For painters and decorators, the venue change signals practical benefits: access to workshop facilities, visibility within an educational setting, and potential pipeline connections between competition participants and training providers. Contractors scouting for skilled labour may also benefit from direct exposure to emerging talent. The model could encourage similar partnerships between professional bodies and colleges across the trades sector, embedding industry standards into recognised vocational infrastructure.
