ASPIRING PAINTER AND DECORATOR FROM NEWCASTLE RECEIVES HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARD IN SCREWFIX TRADE APPRENTICE 2023!

• Courtney Maddison, an apprentice painter and decorator from Newcastle, has received a highly commended award at the final of Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2023
• Courtney takes home a prize bundle worth £1000

Courtney Maddison, an apprentice painter and decorator from Newcastle has been awarded highly commended recognition in this year’s Screwfix Trade Apprentice award following a two-day final in London.

Courtney 22, was awarded by the judges for her tenacity, resilience, and sheer determination to make the trade inclusive for all.

Currently in her third year of studying Painting and Decorating at Newcastle College, she impressed a panel of industry experts made up of representatives from Screwfix, the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, the Federation of Master Builders, the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting and Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2022, Toby Peacock. 

Having previously reached the finals two years ago, Courtney decided to reapply and demonstrate how much she’d grown in that time. Her passion for supporting the next generation of talent entering the trades, together with her drive and ambition set herself apart. She blew the judges away with her impressive business knowledge which she gained while stepping in to manage her boss’s company for a period of time.

Courtney said: “I honestly can’t believe it – I’m made up! Screwfix Trade Apprentice is an amazing award. To have been given highly commended recognition by the judges is a real career high for me. As a female entering the trades it can be daunting, so I want to show others out there that if I can do it, they can too. A career in the trade is a rewarding one, and I’m really proud of my journey to get here. The whole process of Screwfix Trade Apprentice has been amazing and the final was such a great experience. Meeting the other finalists has been brilliant, and I have made some great friends along the way.”

Looking ahead, Courtney plans to use her experiences and skills to set up her own business where she’d love to one day take on apprentices and give them the same supportive environment and access opportunities she had when starting out.

Sammy Ough, Head of Marketing Communications said: “Each year we’re taken back with the high standard of applicants entering the competition, and this year’s final was unbelievably close, which is why we’ve awarded Courtney a highly commended award. Courtney showed a real passion for painting and decorating and her drive to be the very best she can be, was incredibly inspiring. All the judges were blown away with her professionalism and determination to go the extra mile for herself and her customers. I’m looking forward to seeing where this accolade will take her.”

The annual Screwfix Trade Apprentice award aims to highlight the hard work and dedication of trade apprentices across the UK and Ireland, with this year’s champion, aspiring gas engineer Katie Jones from Burscough, receiving a career-boosting £10,000 trade bundle made-up of tools, tech and training.

To find out more about the Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition, please visit screwfix.com/sfta.