The Lead Painter Accreditation training initiative between PPG Industries and Nationwide Crash Repair Centres in the UK is fast approaching the final at Thatcham’s Automotive Academy. This combined training programme and competition is designed to enhance painter skills and extend the adoption of best practice techniques.

Run by PPG Industries, the course and competition recognises and rewards technical excellence across the Nationwide Group. Since it started in Octobber 2012 over 40 painters have attended the course at PPG Stowmarket.

The programme is designed to challenge and develop the skills of repairers in an array of areas including colour matching, special effect finishes, SMART repair and paint rectification. Painters are judged throughout the course on their ability to demonstrate their competence in technical knowledge of the refinish process, health and safety compliance and their skills in the overall paint application process.

Eight painters will be selected for the final at the Thatcham Automotive Academy in June. Here they will compete in an advanced series of tasks to become the Nationwide ‘Lead Painter Accreditation Champion’. The winner will receive a full Apple package including IMac, Ipad and IPhone courtesy of PPG as well as the accolade of being the ‘Lead Painter in NCRC’.