My life in paint

Peter Doyle - Decorator Training Consultant

How long have you been doing your present job?

Two years

What was your first job when you left school?

Apprentice painter and decorator at the University Surveyors office in Oxford, this included working on many university buildings including the famous Radcliffe Camera, Ashmoleum Museum and Bodlian Law. It was a 5-year City & Guilds apprentice, covering all aspects of painting and decorating.

What was your first job within Dulux Trade?

My first role within our company was as Dulux Trade Select Decorator Manager. As a decorator myself, this made it easier talking to good quality decorators, encouraging them to join the scheme and we quickly achieved 1,000 plus members.

What does your current job involve?

I am now working within our own busy training centre team. My role is working with, and training, painters and decorators. It's amazing and fairly frightening how few trades people are out there and there is a major need for training with new waterborne products and application techniques. Another part of my job I really enjoy is working with painting and decorating colleges up and down the country. I have now set up 8 centres, from Edinburgh's Telford college to Taunton's College of Art & Technology. Shortly, we will be working with Belfast Institute in Northern Ireland, another milestone for us. We work very closely with these centres promoting training. Not only is it very important to work with current decorators, but we also work with and encourage students into the trade. I always invite Year 3 students along to our courses and whenever possible run sessions for the students before or after our decorator courses. To find out more about the training courses that Dulux Trade offer visit www.icipaints.co.uk/training I am also an active member of the APCT (Association of Painting Craft Teachers) and will never forget my time as an apprentice - such a long time ago!

What do you enjoy about your current job?

All the above, meeting people, in particular painters and decorators at various shows. Debating their concerns and thoughts, promoting our/my trade, working with decorating colleges, helping students. And finally, working with my colleagues, who I know are like-minded.

What do you do when you're not working?

I enjoy watching my local football team, Oxford United (probably enough said about that!). I love the Gym and have just purchased a house on the Costa Blanca so there'll be lots of exploring as well as having fun learning Spanish.

What car do you drive?

My main car is a Saab, but my baby is my MG. It's not that old but it's great fun: British Racing Green or Emerald Green as I prefer to call it.

If you could meet one famous person (past or present), who would it be and why?

I had the pleasure of meeting Bobby Moore in the 80's, at that time Oxford City Manager. I would have also loved to have met Florence nightingale for her dedication, determination and pure energy - I think I could have chatted to her for hours.