BTX Painting and Decorating LOY 2025 Winner: Romilly Oliver from Multi Trades Training Ltd
It’s time to announce the BTX Painting and Decorating LOY 2025 Winner!
The debut BTX Painting and Decorating Learner of the Year (LOY) Competition 2025 has been a massive success, celebrating the exceptional talent, dedication, and passion of the UK’s top painting and decorating students and apprentices. The Grand Final, held on April 29th at Stephenson Campus, part of the SMB College Group, brought together four highly skilled finalists who went head-to-head in a meticulously designed competition.
We are thrilled to announce the very first winner of the BTX Painting and Decorating LOY Competition 2025 – congratulations to Romilly Oliver from Multi Trades Training Ltd, who claimed the title at this year’s Grand Final. Romilly stood out from the competition with outstanding technical skills, precision, and a commitment to excellence.
Joining Romilly in the winners’ circle was Ainsley Fernandes from York College, who impressed the judges and secured the runner-up spot in this fiercely 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:
- Ainsley Fernandes – York College
- Hayden Conroy – Burnley College
- Holly Hall – Burnley College
- Romilly Oliver – Multi Trades Training Ltd
Throughout the competition, the finalists showcased not only their technical abilities but also their problem-solving skills and in-depth industry knowledge. They tackled a challenging project created by our Head Judges, Peter Walters and Adrian Copp, from the Association of Painting Craft Teachers (APCT).
Romilly Oliver, representing Multi Trades Training Ltd, was crowned the BTX Painting and Decorating LOY 2025 Winner, wowing the judges with her technical proficiency. Romilly shared her excitement, saying, “The design was a lot harder than last time, but it was fun. I enjoyed it… It’s really good for young apprentices when they’re going to be starting their own businesses even just some vouchers or some equipment that they didn’t have before that is so useful to young people and to know that they’re being supported by the big names in this industry is really good.”
Ainsley Fernandes, representing York College, earned the title of BTX Painting and Decorating LOY 2025 Runner-Up, with Ainsley commenting, “It’s been a great day and, Yeah. Loved it, it Felt amazing. All my hard work has really paid off. I Have, sort of achieved what i was dreaming.”
The BTX Painting and Decorating LOY 2025 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 Paints
- Ciret Ltd
- Frogtape
- Fix Radio
- The Association of Painting Craft Teachers (APCT)
Zoe Tanner, Managing Director at BTX, commented: “The inaugural BTX Painting & Decorating Learner of the Year final has been a remarkable showcase of hands-on expertise and creative precision within the trade. Each finalist demonstrated outstanding skill, attention to detail, and professionalism while working under realistic, time-pressured conditions. The standard of work sets a high benchmark for future competitions and reflects the exciting future of 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 #BTXLOY25 and #BTXPAINT25 for highlights from this year’s competition.
