PPG Industries and Nationwide set out to find 'Lead Painter'

Lead Painter Accreditation Course goes national

PPG Industries and Nationwide Crash Repair Centres have today announced a combined training programme and competition designed to enhance painter skills and extend the adoption of best practice techniques across the Nationwide group.

The 'Lead Painter Accreditation' course and competition is a new collaborative initiative between PPG Industries and Nationwide Crash Repair Centre designed to develop Nationwide painter skills and knowledge in the latest repair methods and 'right first time' processes.

Supported by PPG Industries, the course and competition will reinforce best practice techniques, recognise and reward technical excellence across the Nationwide group.

A nominated painter from each of the Nationwide Crash Repair Centre group sites will attend the intensive two day 'Lead Painter Accreditation' course and assessment at PPG's training centre in Stowmarket, Suffolk. The course is designed to challenge and develop the skills of repairers in an array of areas including colour matching, special effect colours, SMART repair and paint rectification. Painters will be 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. On successfully passing the course each painter will be awarded certification and a Nationwide and PPG Industries branded spray gun courtesy of Devilbiss.

Eight of the top painters from the two day assessment at Stowmarket will then be invited to Thatcham Automotive Academy in May 2013 to pitch their skills against their colleagues 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.

Simon Meredith PPG Industries National Account Manager

"We are really pleased to be running the LPAC competition in partnership with Nationwide Crash Repair, it is a testimony to both parties looking to deliver value through products, process & people to enhance efficiency and profitability."

Daemon Pink, Nationwide Operations Director adds

"Increasing efficiency, right first time results and keeping repair quality to the highest standards, are all major objectives for us and this exciting initiative will ensure our paint teams have the skills required to be at the forefront of our industry; this further demonstrates the benefit of our great relationship with PPG."