During the competition’s first official awards ceremony at the P&D Show in Coventry in November, Simon Whitaker from Accrington and Rossendale College was crowned College Lecturer Mentor of the Year, while Scott Oliver of Scott Oliver Decorating, based in Poole, was crowned Painter and Decorator Mentor of the Year.
Now in its fourth year, Purdy’s Mentor of the Year recognises those in the industry who inspire the next generation of professional painters and decorators to be the best that they can be. Those learning the trade were asked to nominate a professional who is having a positive impact on their learning. This year, Purdy received a record number of entries, with the three judges, Neil Ogilvie CEO of the Painting and Decorating Association, Phil Warrick of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and Rob Davies of Purdy having their work cut out choosing the eventual winners.
The runners up were Jose Jarrett, from Shrewsbury Colleges Group for the College Lecturer Mentor of the Year, and Andrew Hamilton, from Bolton-based AR Decor for Painter and Decorator Mentor of the Year. The winners each received £1,000 and the runners-up were both awarded £500.
Finally, Glen Galbraith from Doncaster College – last year’s College Lecturer Mentor of the Year winner – was also awarded a special Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his longstanding and ongoing commitment to the next generation of painting and decorating apprentices and his passion for the industry.
Rob Davies from Purdy, said: “This is the third year that I have been on the judging panel for the Mentor of the Year Awards and during that time the quality and the standard of the entries has improved immensely. It was a really difficult task to select our winners this year, but we have chosen some excellent individuals who don’t just add value to their colleges, they add value the industry and provide a crucial support system to their students.”
Entries for the Purdy Mentor of the Year 2025 competition will open on 1April 2025. Deadline for entries is 30 September 2025.
To find out more about Purdy, please visit: www.purdy.co.uk
Meet the Mentor of the Year Finalists video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTtp6T2Nuzg&t=14s