Apprentice Painter

Train in painting and plastering. Then work on the Army’s biggest building projects, all round the world. Get a trade, qualifications and an exciting lifestyle.

Everything you need to know about the role, requirements and what you’ll gain.

You can join between the ages of 16 – 36. At the time of your application you will need to be between 15 years & 7 months old and
35 years & 6 months old.

You can start your training as a Junior Soldier at the Army Foundation College from the age of 16 years and 6 months.

GCSE Grade A–D/9-3, or Scottish National 4, in at least English Language, Maths and one other subject.

Unsure about any requirements? Our recruitment team is here to help.

Painting, plastering, tiling; you’re the person who adds the finishing touches to Army building projects. You could be working on hospitals, headquarters, military plants or bases, anywhere in the world. Whatever the building, you’ll get it ready for use. First-class training teaches you about plaster boarding, scaffolding, glazing and more – skills you can use in the civilian world. Meanwhile, you can boost your CV by taking all kinds of qualifications to improve your Maths and English, for example.

When you’re not working, you can have plenty of fun with good mates doing sports and Adventurous Training.
Plasterer and Painter is a Trade role in the Royal Engineers. All the Royal Engineer soldier job roles are divided into 5 groups. When you apply to the Engineers, you will apply to the trade group rather than the specific trade.

Learn a host of trades including plaster boarding, painting, and tiling

Become expert in associated skills like glazing and scaffolding

Deploy on operations all over the world

Carry out work on a variety of military and civilian projects

Experience Army sports and adventurous training

Step 1
Your initial military training teaches you how to be a soldier, covering everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle.

If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do a basic military training course at Harrogate .

If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the regular adult basic training .

Step 2
Then it’s off to the Royal School of Military Engineering near Camberley for 12 weeks. Here, you learn military engineering skills such as knots and lashings, demolition, mine warfare and bridge building. Then it’s 24 weeks at the Royal School of Military Engineering in Chatham, learning about dry lining, painting, wall and floor tiling, planning and site safety.

You'll earn £27,282 a year from the start of your training, which will go up as you progress throughout your career.

Level 3 Military Engineering Construction Technician Apprenticeship

(contains the following pathways: Heating and Plumbing, Carpenter and Joiner, Building & Structural Finisher, Plant Operator Mechanic)

From application to training, you can expect a timeline of around 3-6 months.

Timelines can vary based on individual circumstances.

1. 1-2 days

Take a look inside the accommodation you’ll live in during basic training.

Train in modern gyms and facilities built to keep you fit, strong and ready.

Get honest answers from real soldiers in the roles you’re interested in. Read previously asked questions or ask your own.

You can expect to travel all over the world as a Royal Engineer. In my nearly 15 years in the military as a serving Royal Engineer I have deployed on operations and exercises all over the the UK, Germany, Cyprus, Afghanistan, Turkey, Italy, France and Belgium.

As a Royal Engineer, you can expect opportunities to work and train in the UK and overseas. Sappers support operations globally, using their skills to solve…