It’s time to announce the BTX Painting and Decorating LOY 2026 Winner!
After an exciting conclusion to the BTX Painting and Decorating Learner of the Year (LOY) Competition 2026, we are thrilled to announce this year’s Winner and Runner-Up. Now in its second year, the competition has been a tremendous success, showcasing the outstanding skills, dedication and motivation of the next generation of UK painting and decorating students and apprentices.
It was fantastic to see the six talented finalists go head-to-head at the Grand Final, held on April 21st at Stephenson College, part of the Loughborough College Group, to complete a exercise meticulously designed by our judging partner, The Association of Painting Craft Teachers (APCT).
We are delighted to announce the winner of the BTX Painting and Decorating LOY Competition 2026 – congratulations to Tommy Hogarth from City College Plymouth, who claimed the prestigious title at this year’s Grand Final. Tommy set himself apart from the competition with his impressive technical skills and attention to detail.
Faith Loynes from Leeds College of Building secured the runner-up position, standing out to the judges in a highly competitive final.
The finalists earned their places in the Grand Final after competing in a series of nationwide heats earlier this year. The talented finalists were:
Tommy Hogarth from City College Plymouth
Libbi Hitch from South and City College Birmingham
Jack Pashby from City College Plymouth
Faith Loynes from Leeds College of Building
Courtney Irwin from Doncaster College
Kady Nuttal from Burnley College
Throughout the regional heats and the final, the finalists demonstrated their problem-solving and technical skills, as well as their in-depth industry knowledge, completing a challenging exercise designed by Peter Walters and Adrian Copp, from the Association of Painting Craft Teachers (APCT).
Tommy Hogarth, representing City College Plymouth, was crowned the BTX Painting and Decorating LOY 2026 Winner, wowing the judges with their technical proficiency. Tommy shared his excitement, saying, “Amazing, definitely, like I just feel like everything that’s gone into this apprenticeship has paid off.”
Faith Loynes, representing Leeds College of Building, earned the title of BTX Painting and Decorating LOY 2026 Runner-Up, commenting, “It felt good. I’m very critical of myself and it’s nice to know that you can actually get somewhere.”
The BTX Painting and Decorating LOY Competition is a new initiative by BTX, introduced in 2025. It aims to recognise and celebrate the achievements of learners in the painting and decorating sector across the UK. This competition serves as a platform to showcase the skills and dedication of apprentices and students in this field.
The competition is made possible by a fantastic group of industry-leading sponsors and supporters, including:
Johnstone’s Trade Paint
Tesa UK
Ciret
Fix Radio
Snickers Workwear
APCT
Zoë Tanner, Managing Director at BTX, commented: “Now in its second year, the BTX Painting & Decorating Learner of the Year final once again brought together outstanding emerging talent from across the trade. Finalists faced a demanding, time-pressured challenge that tested accuracy, creativity and professionalism throughout. The standard achieved was exceptionally high, raising the bar for future competitions and reflecting a bright, evolving future for the painting and decorating industry.”
The BTX Painting and Decorating LOY Competition ushers in a new era of celebrating emerging talent within the painting and decorating industry. This exciting platform is designed to highlight the most promising students and apprentices from across the UK, offering them recognition, valuable experience, and the chance to kickstart their careers in the trade. We aim to provide a springboard for competitors to achieve great success and emphasise the competition’s role in shaping the next generation of industry professionals.
Stay connected with us on social media to relive the journey and share in the excitement! Follow us on Instagram and use the hashtag #BTXLOY26 and #BTXPAINT26 for highlights from this year’s competition.
