PaintTech Training Academy
PaintTech Training Academy is an independent UK training academy founded in 2016, delivering 30+ in-person and online painting and decorating courses for tradespeople from centres in Preston and Edenbridge, with CITB funding eligibility and City & Guilds accreditation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersEdenbridge, Kent, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What PaintTech Training Academy does
PaintTech Training Academy is an independent UK-based training provider founded in 2016 by Ian Crump, Pete Wilkinson, and two additional co-founders (Lyndsey and Tracey), headquartered in Edenbridge, Kent. The company delivers more than 30 hands-on and online courses for working painters and decorators, spanning airless and HVLP spraying, UPVC and kitchen spraying, spray plaster, decorative finishes (Venetian plaster, resin worktops, RetroCoat, Spray Granite via Hawk StoneFlecks and Infinity), wallpapering, and business development (estimating, project management). Training is delivered primarily at two physical centres — Preston (Northern England) and Edenbridge (Southern England) — with a pop-up Cambridge Hub, supplemented by self-paced online courses via the Thinkific platform. A proprietary in-house VR spray painting simulator provides immersive pre-course training and recruitment outreach.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer model with no external investors and no disclosed funding; pricing ranges from £450 to £1,350 plus VAT per course, with most courses running two days. Revenue economics are materially shaped by CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) grant funding of up to £5,000 per year per eligible business, an up-to-50% sole-trader discount, and in some regions fully funded course places. The company holds CITB Approved Training Organisation status and is a City & Guilds centre, with five courses assured by City & Guilds. Customer segments are horizontal across the trade: sole traders (primary), SMEs, and large companies. Distribution is direct via phone, email, website enquiry, and trade shows (including the National Painting and Decorating Show), supported by an organic content engine spanning a blog/resource centre, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, plus a 14,000+ member 'Spraying Makes Sense' community group. Brand recognition is anchored by induction into the Prestige Awards Hall of Fame after three consecutive 'Trades Education Specialist of the Year' wins (2021–2023) and finalist status in the On The Tools Awards.
PaintTech Training Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PaintTech Training Academy
- Legal name
- PaintTech Training Academy
- Website
- https://painttechtrainingacademy.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- PaintTech Training Academy is an independent UK training academy founded in 2016, delivering 30+ in-person and online painting and decorating courses for tradespeople from centres in Preston and Edenbridge, with CITB funding eligibility and City & Guilds accreditation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PaintTech Training Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vocational Trades Training
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Fine Arts Schools (61161)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration) (EDAAAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA)
Keywords
Where PaintTech Training Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Edenbridge, Kent
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
PaintTech Training Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Course Fees (In-Person Training): PaintTech generates revenue primarily through paid in-person training courses. Courses are priced between £450 and £1,350 (plus VAT), with most courses being 2 days long. Course types include spraying courses (Intensive Airless Spraying, Advanced Airless Spraying, Kitchens & Furniture Spraying, HVLP, Airless Spray Plaster, UPVC Spraying), decorative finishes (Venetian Polished Plaster, Resin Worktops, RetroCoat), business development (Estimating, Project Management), and wallpapering. Revenue is one-time per course attendance, with no recurring subscription required from students.
- CITB Funding / Grants: PaintTech's courses are eligible for CITB (Construction Industry Training Board) funding. Businesses can access up to £5,000 per year in grants for training. In certain regions, additional funding above the standard £5,000 is available. Some eligible students can get their courses fully funded. PaintTech assists customers with all CITB paperwork and administration. The company itself benefits from CITB as a CITB Approved Training Organisation.
- Online Courses: PaintTech offers online courses through its resource centre (e.g., Thinkific platform), providing narrowed-down versions of many in-person courses for learners to study at their own pace. These serve as both standalone revenue and lead generation for in-person courses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Entry/Multi-Day Courses — from £450 to £1,350+ VAT |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | CITB Funded Courses — up to 100% funded |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sole Trader / Small Business Discount — up to 50% off |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
PaintTech Training Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PaintTech Training Academy delivers hands-on and online training courses for painting and decorating tradespeople across the UK. The academy offers over 30 courses covering spray painting techniques (airless, HVLP, UPVC, spray plaster), decorative finishes (Venetian plaster, resin worktops, spray granite), wallpapering, and business development (estimating, project management). Courses are delivered in-person at two main training centres in Edenbridge (Kent) and Preston (Lancashire), plus a Cambridge Hub, with self-paced online versions available via Thinkific.
Product overview
PaintTech Training Academy offers a portfolio of 30+ hands-on and online training courses for painting and decorating tradespeople. The core offering consists of spraying courses (airless, HVLP, UPVC, spray plaster), decorative finishes (Venetian plaster, resin worktops, spray granite with Hawk StoneFlecks and Infinity), wallpapering courses, and business development training (estimating, project management). The academy operates in-person training at two main centres (Edenbridge/Kent and Preston/Lancashire) plus a Cambridge hub, with an online learning platform via Thinkific. Key differentiators include CITB funding eligibility, City & Guilds accreditation on 5 courses, proprietary VR spray painting simulator, and lifetime post-course support. Courses range from 1-3 days with pricing from £450 to £1,350 plus VAT.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Intensive Airless Spraying Course Comprehensive training on airless spray equipment for applying paint to walls, ceilings, and woodwork, covering setup, technique, and finishing. CITB funded and City & Guilds assured. Aimed at painters and decorators wanting to learn or improve airless spraying skills.
- Advanced Airless Spraying Course Advanced-level training building on intensive airless techniques for experienced sprayers seeking to refine skills and tackle complex projects. Aimed at experienced decorators.
- Kitchens & Furniture On-Site Spraying Course Training on spraying fitted kitchens and furniture on-site, including surface preparation, masking techniques, and achieving factory-quality finishes in residential settings. Targets decorators wanting to offer kitchen and furniture spraying services.
- Advanced Kitchens Spraying Course Advanced techniques for kitchen spraying covering complex scenarios, high-end finishes, and professional-level kitchen cabinet restoration. For experienced kitchen sprayers.
- HVLP Spray Painting Course Training on HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) turbine and conventional compressor spray gun systems for precise finish work on furniture, cabinetry, and detailed surfaces.
- Airless Spray Plaster Course
Quantifiable outcome
- Spray painting is typically 2–16 times faster than brush and roller, enabling decorators to double or triple their weekly earnings.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use PaintTech Training Academy
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PaintTech Training Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
PaintTech Training Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- City & GuildscorePaintTech is a City & Guilds centre with five courses assured by City & Guilds. Students who complete these courses receive City & Guilds accreditation, adding credential value to their training. This partnership provides formal, nationally recognised certification for PaintTech graduates.
- Painting & Decorating AssociationminorPaintTech is a member of the Painting & Decorating Association, displaying their logo on their website as a mark of industry recognition and credibility within the trade.
- MasterFinish APS (UK importer of Hawk Labs StoneFlecks)minorMasterFinish APS is the UK importer of Hawk Labs StoneFlecks products, which PaintTech teaches as part of its Worktop Refurbishment course. PaintTech provides hands-on training using these products, exposing students to the MasterFinish brand as part of the curriculum.
- ResinMill (UK seller of Infinity Spray Granite)minorResinMill sells Infinity Spray Granite products throughout the UK and holds all products in stock. PaintTech teaches Infinity Spray Granite techniques as part of its Spray Granite course, referring students to ResinMill as a supplier of the products.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PaintTech Training Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Toolstation Trade Skills workshops: UK tool and supplies retailer that periodically runs in-store trade skills workshops. Comparable as an adjacent distributor with a stake in trade training, but not a direct competitor; relevant as a downstream channel where PaintTech graduates purchase equipment.
- National Painting & Decorating Show (Hemming Group): Annual UK trade exhibition and industry body where PaintTech exhibits and demos its VR simulator. Listed as an adjacent ecosystem participant — not a training provider itself, but a key distribution and lead-generation channel for PaintTech.
Direct peers
- HAVERLAND UK (spray training): UK provider of HVLP and spray painting training and equipment, with hands-on courses for decorators and finishers. Directly comparable to PaintTech in its focus on spray technique training for the painting and decorating trade.
- Able Skills: UK-based independent trade training centre in Kent offering hands-on vocational courses across painting, decorating, plastering, tiling and other construction trades. Directly comparable as a private, multi-course trade academy targeting similar sole-trader and SME audiences with similar pricing and funding mechanics (CITB-eligible courses, City & Guilds partnerships).
Broad incumbents
- CITB (Construction Industry Training Board): Statutory training body for the UK construction industry that funds training via grants and runs its own National Construction College. Comparable as the dominant funder and provider of construction trade training in the UK, and PaintTech's core funding and approval partner.
- City & Guilds: UK's largest vocational awarding body, of which PaintTech is an approved centre. City & Guilds is comparable as the credentialing infrastructure underpinning PaintTech's assured courses and as a broad incumbent in technical/trade education across many disciplines.
- The Finishing Trades Association / FAITS: UK trade body offering training and certification for painting, decorating and finishing trades. Overlaps with PaintTech's training mission but operates as a broader industry association and apprenticeship standard-setter rather than a dedicated spray-painting specialist academy.
Emerging players
- Spray Finishing Solutions (UK): UK specialist offering spray painting training courses for tradespeople and industry. Niche overlap with PaintTech in the spraying training category, but smaller in scale and narrower in course portfolio — a relevant emerging player rather than a true direct competitor.
- Graco (training programmes): Global manufacturer of airless and HVLP spray equipment that runs its own training programmes for decorators and contractors using its machines. Comparable to PaintTech because it teaches spray painting techniques using Graco equipment (PaintTech's airless courses reference the Graco Mark V), positioning it as a partial competitor and equipment-side emerging player.
- Dacrylate Paints Training: UK industrial coatings manufacturer that runs spray and coatings application training for decorators and applicators. Comparable as a manufacturer-led training provider in spray application techniques, sitting between PaintTech's trade academy model and a manufacturer's product-led training offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PaintTech Training Academy social profiles
Digital presencePaintTech Training Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PaintTech Training Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
PaintTech Training Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PaintTech Training Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PaintTech Training Academy
What does PaintTech Training Academy do?
PaintTech Training Academy delivers hands-on and online training courses for painting and decorating tradespeople across the UK. The academy offers over 30 courses covering spray painting techniques (airless, HVLP, UPVC, spray plaster), decorative finishes (Venetian plaster, resin worktops, spray granite), wallpapering, and business development (estimating, project management). Courses are delivered in-person at two main training centres in Edenbridge (Kent) and Preston (Lancashire), plus a Cambridge Hub, with self-paced online versions available via Thinkific.
Is PaintTech Training Academy a public or private company?
PaintTech Training Academy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PaintTech Training Academy founded?
PaintTech Training Academy was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is PaintTech Training Academy based?
PaintTech Training Academy is headquartered in Edenbridge, Kent, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does PaintTech Training Academy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Course Fees (In-Person Training) is the primary driver. The others are CITB Funding / Grants and online Courses.
Who are PaintTech Training Academy's main competitors?
Others on record are Toolstation Trade Skills workshops and National Painting & Decorating Show (Hemming Group). Direct peers are HAVERLAND UK (spray training) and Able Skills. Broad incumbents are CITB (Construction Industry Training Board), City & Guilds and The Finishing Trades Association / FAITS. Emerging players are Spray Finishing Solutions (UK), Graco (training programmes) and Dacrylate Paints Training.
Does PaintTech Training Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for PaintTech Training Academy.
What industry is PaintTech Training Academy in?
PaintTech Training Academy's product category is Vocational Trades Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAGAA, Visual Arts (Drawing, Painting, Illustration), with a secondary code of EDAMAAAA, Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture). Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.