• All individuals wishing to become an apprentice will undergo a thorough screening and assessment process.
• Successful applicants will be directly employed by CtF and will be paid national minimum wage rates.
• All apprentices will undergo a comprehensive health and safety induction.
• All CtF apprentices will attend college on day release.
• CtF will be responsible for arranging, managing and paying for all training related to the achievement of the apprenticeship.
• Each apprentice will have a nominated CITB CSkills Training Coordinator, who will be responsible for reviewing their progress.
• CtF will place the apprentice with local contractors to ensure they successfully complete their apprenticeship.
• Apprentices achieving their Level 2 have the opportunity to progress to Level 3.

• Contractors supporting the placement of CtF apprentices will contribute towards meeting any employment KPIs, which they are obliged to meet through Lancashire Housing Partnership and Local Authority procurement frameworks.
• As the apprentice is employed by CtF, not the host contractor, all employment responsibilities for the apprentice remain with CtF.
• No contractor commitment to guaranteeing continuity of employment after the placement has finished.
• Contractors are only charged a weekly fee for hosting the apprentice.  No further costs are incurred.
• Contractors are supporting the recruitment of apprentices, thereby ensuring a skilled and qualified workforce is able to meet future skills requirements.

• Access to high quality training and support.
• Opportunity to work with a wide range of different contractors, providing a much broader experience.
• Risk of not being able to complete their apprenticeship drastically reduced.
• Achievement and success rates of CtF apprentices are above local, regional and national averages.

Whilst employed by us, you are given the on-site experience you need to complete your qualifications to become a painter and decorator.

You are entitled to the company benefits of working for a reputable employer that was rated 8th in the Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work For list.

Any other training needs outside of the provider’s remit are covered by us to ensure you have the knowledge you require.

We will make sure you have the necessary Personal Protective Equipment required by law to start work.

You will have a qualified painter and decorator as your supervisor and mentor, providing you with practical support and advice throughout your employment.

We will assist your business in meeting its Corporate Social Responsibility by providing people with opportunities to find a career and to develop themselves, professionally and personally.

By employing a local workforce, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, we provide skills, experience, and employment opportunities that can be so hard to come by in the commercial sector.

Calico Interiors saves your business time and money by recruiting, employing, and managing the trainees, ensuring they are on track with their qualifications and that things are running smoothly for you on site.

The correct allocation and deployment of work can be a hassle for an organisation, along with the responsibility to liaise with the relevant training providers to ensure trainees are getting a wide enough range of experience. This is eliminated when contracting Calico Interiors, as we do this as standard.

We have completed a full range of internal and external painting and decorating work in a variety of property types. Materials and tools can be purchased and collected directly by Calico Interiors or through your business – whichever is best for you.

In April 2012, the first group of employees in Wythenshawe completed their painting and decorating qualifications. All three have successfully gone into other employment opportunities. Calico Enterprise has now employed four additional residents to the scheme, working on the external painting of Parkway Green Housing Trust properties, in partnership with George Jones and Son.

Our work with Community Gateway Association led to Preston residents being given opportunities to improve their skills and get jobs. Liam Donnelly works on the scheme as a full time trainee painter and decorator:

How did you hear about the scheme?
“An old work colleague at the council told me about this opportunity. I applied and, before I knew it, I had an interview and had started work.”

What has been your best experience so far?
“I have been painting and decorating for over a year and have come a long way in that time. I believe the quality of my painting has gone from average to brilliant! I am now confident in planning my own workload and engaging with customers and professional staff. I find it very satisfying, transforming a variety of rooms.”

Would you recommend the scheme to others?
“The partnership works well. I would recommend working for Calico Interiors to anyone. I have an excellent supervisor and I am part of a team which prides itself on producing quality work within set deadlines. I have had support in achieving my NVQ in painting and decorating, health and safety training, and obtaining a Construction Skills Certification Scheme card – all of which helps to become a fully qualified painter and decorator.”

The Empty Homes Initiative is one that seeks to bring long term empty properties back up to a standard in which they can be lived in again. We have recently been commissioned to complete some decoration work to these properties.

The service is available to all customers – both tenanted and private homeowners – as well as commercial contracts.

Quotes include both labour and material charges. Materials are supplied at a cost price, unless the customer wishes to supply their own.

There are no limits – it’s based on customer requirements.

Contact the Interiors team on 01282 686300. We would be delighted to discuss your decorating needs. Our qualified and experienced supervisor will come along and look at what is needed. This will be followed up with a written quotation.

On completion of the works, an invoice is sent to the customer. No cash payments are accepted by the painters and decorators on site. We have an Income Recovery Policy in place should a customer not pay. Where there are larger contracts to complete, the payment terms will be negotiated individually with the customer.

They are all provided by us, delivering opportunities for local people.

To find out more, call us on 01282 686300.