The six apprentices from Launceston, Burnie, Smithton and Hobart painted their way through a six-hour test to potentially secure the title of Tasmania’s best painting and decorating apprentice.

Teacher Scott Dalton said there were some nerves on the day as the apprentices had to mix and match a cream toned paint to the same shade, as well as lay out and paint a patterned feature on one wall to a set design.

Each apprentice had a small room to paint their designs and lay out their paint matching shades.

“It’s mainly about colour-matching and cutting in, following technique and instructions,” Mr Dalton said.

Mr Dalton said the three judges would consider the quality of the paint layout and any stray paint on the skirtingboards, the regularity of the paint layers and accuracy of the blue and orange design apprentices were tasked with replicating.

He said the winner would have a chance to join the Tasmanian WorldSkills team to compete in Sydney at the national championships in June next year.

“In the past we’ve had a couple of students who actually won that, one who went to Helsinki and one to France [for the international competition],” he said.

Mr Dalton said there was always a need for apprentices in the industry, giving young people a secure job from which they could choose to pursue other careers, or know they could find work regardless of situation.

In the past year the number of painting and decorating apprenticeships going through TasTAFE have increased significantly to about 120 across the state, from under 100 last year.

“We’ve got a range of employers that are looking for apprentices,” Mr Dalton said.

“Not everybody’s set to go to university at the end of the day, there’s a lot of people who like to work with their hands.”

The WorldSkills Australia competitions give apprentices and trainees a national competition in which to showcase their skills and compete against their national peers. Apprentice Patrick Mullen said he was keen to win and potentially take a trip to Sydney.