In the third part of our Inside the Academy series, Professional Builder visits the Colour Studio at the Dulux Academy to learn about its Colour and Design Courses.
The Dulux Colour and Design courses are pitched at painters and decorators, as well as interior designers, looking to upskill to provide their customers with trusted colour and design advice and expertise. Increasingly, customers seek advice from painters and decorators about colour and design as they look to incorporate more colour in their homes, making it essential for decorators to have the skills and knowledge to give expert guidance”, says Dulux Academy Skills Development Consultant, Nicola Holmes.
“Things have changed so much in the last two years, people understand the impact of colour and how it is transformative on our wellbeing, and they want to know more,” she says. “For decorating, customers want to see inside other peoples’ houses. A painter and decorator who can show project examples and why they work will allay any concerns. After all, choosing a colour or design theme is a big decision for lots of people.
This is where Dulux Academy’s Colour and Design Courses excel by helping painters and decorators to build the knowledge and confidence they need to help meet their customers’ needs.
The four courses currently available are: Understanding Colour Theory and Design; Colour Tools; Designing Beautiful Living Spaces; and Presenting Colour to Customers. They are hosted throughout the year at the Dulux Academy in Slough, plus Academy at Dulux Decorator Centre locations across the country and selected college partners.
Interactive Live Courses online
Dulux Academy also offers a series of free interactive Live Courses online, covering a range of topics designed to support you and your decorating business. They initially began to support delegates and their businesses during the pandemic and have since evolved and continue through Dulux Academy Live. The Live Courses were born during the pandemic, but their continued popularity has seen the 45-minute sessions become a core part of the Colour and Design Course offering as more decorators look to upskill. They are bitesize, interactive webinars covering topics such as Colour Theory and Colour Tools. The free series of online workshops offer Q&A sessions for those keen to have a taste of the Dulux Academy experience. Nicola will also deliver Live courses on ColourFutures 2023 of the Year 2023.
Ongoing support
However, the learning and support doesn’t end at the close of a course. The Dulux Academy has built a community of alumni through its Dulux Academy Network on Facebook, exclusive to those who book and attend any Academy Courses and Live Courses, which span topics such as Spraying, Application Skills and Wallpapering to name a few. The network allows decorators to ask questions of others in the trade and receive answers or advice.
“I’ve seen so many amazing results from people who have attended the courses, with decorators putting their Colour and Design Course training on websites and van liveries to let customers know they can talk to them about colour,” continues Nicola. “The courses build confidence among decorators and allows them to put colour schemes together for their customers. It’s another level of skill that decorators can sell to their customers.”
DULUX ACADEMY’S COLOUR COURSES
Dulux Academy’s Colour and Design Courses are practical and hands-on, covering the theoretic and essential elements of colour and design.
Course name: Understanding Colour Theory
Course cost: £150+VAT
Course duration: 1 day
Reasons to attend: Dulux Academy’s most popular Colour and Design Course takes place over one day. It is aimed at painters and decorators, both expert and novice, and provides delegates with theoretical and practical colour knowledge.
Course name: Colour Tools
Course cost: £150+VAT
Course duration: 1 day
Reasons to attend: This course ensures painters and decorators have all the right tools – both traditional and tech-based – to do the job. Aimed at painters and decorators new to the trade, Attendees will leave with an understanding of the core tools they need to do their job to the highest standard.
Course name: Designing Beautiful Living Spaces
Course cost: £275+VAT
Course duration: 2 days
Reasons to attend: Designing Beautiful Living Spaces is a step outside the box and opens delegates’ eyes to a new world of colour and design. The course is aimed at painters and decorators and will arm them with the practical knowledge they need to help customers design the perfect room.
Course name: Presenting Colour to Customers
Course cost: £150+VAT
Course duration: 1 day
Reasons to attend: Hosted over one day, Presenting Colour to Customers is real opportunity for decorators to up their game and showcase ‘eye-service’ to customers. The course gives students the knowledge, theory and practical skills to talk through colour with confidence.
For more information, visit https://academy.duluxtradepaintexpert.co.uk/
