The works include: total strip out, refurbishment, new roofing to the external block, new cubicles, new sanitary ware, rewiring and flooring.

The works were completed within the agreed time frame of the summer recess to a high standard and on budget.

Premises Manager Ian Cavanagh and Head Teacher Mr Cawthorne were delighted with the completed works.

Located in central London Morley College provides a range of day, evening and weekend courses for adults primarily in Art and design, fashion and music.

The works included a total refurbishment of the Ceramics department in the main building and Pelham Hall sculpture building. Works included reconfiguration of the areas, removal and relocation of the kilns and potters wheels, full rewire, M&E, plumbing, ventilation works, new high performance flooring and redecorations.

The works presented a unique challenge requiring various changes to the design, and were completed within budget and on time ready for the start of the new term.

The works included a complete strip out of fixtures and fittings, removal of furniture and old bookcases, full refurbishment including suspended ceilings, partitions, sanitary ware, new flooring and full internal and external redecoration. The works were completed within the 5 week time schedule and on budget.

‘I am very pleased with the outcome as were the clients. The scheme was completed within the timescale set to a very high standard’. David Higgins, Business Development Director.

‘TCL were recommended by Greenwich Council due to our past experience in reactive maintenance for the Council and the speed of which we can start and finish the work’ Bilal Amin

‘I would like to confirm how pleased I am with not only the standard of decorating works carried out in the hallway at RADICLE’s Whitechapel Family Centre, but also the conduct of the Topcoat employees’. Michelle Hogg, Radicle Central Cluster Manager

All at TCL have been very helpful, ensuring we could keep disruption to services to a minimum, and have made a really good job on several difficult areas of the library. They have also been very neat and tidy, and courteous to all the staff and public they have dealt with’.

Beccie North, Manager, Eltham Library

‘I am very excited to work with Epping Forest District Council. The Council is satisfied with the quality and speed of our work so far. This can only strengthen our relationship with the Council’.

Barry Wright Voids Manager

For those of you who haven’t been there before, it’s a fantastic venue and a really beautiful building. Details of the re-launch have not yet been finalised but I am in the process of approaching the manufacturers to ask them to attend and see what they can do to support the local members of the PDA South East Region.

I know that for many of us in the South East Region, we had a very quiet start to 2010. I believe I can speak for the majority of us when I say that it seemed like most budget holders were holding back on starting or committing to projects until after the election. Now the new Government is in place, I have definitely started to see more activity, albeit a bit late particularly for those External Cyclical Decorating Programmes.

I am fortunate to have an office less than a mile away from the Olympics and I see every passing day that the development is proceeding at a rate of knots (that’s the view from my office). Unfortunately, being a stone’s throw from the Olympics doesn’t guarantee you any work on the site and I am still not sure if there are any PDA members actually working on the site. If you know of any perhaps you could let me know.

At Topcoat we have attended most meetings and seminars with the Olympic authority to try and procure work, but to no avail. I have spoken with people in the surrounding area in Leyton and Stratford and everybody mentions the Government’s idea was to use as much local labour as possible to regenerate the area. However, as yet I have yet to meet one person who knows a local person or Company that is working on site.

On a happier note the new Government seems to be moving fairly quickly and the projection is for growth. I will be sending out details of the re-launch very shortly and am really looking forward to meeting local members and finding out how they feel the PDA can support them. We must remember that the South East Region is the second biggest in the PDA but, due to lack of support over the years, it was suspended. It is now our intention to revitalise the Region and really put us back on the map but, to do this, we need your support and attendance at every event. You will hear from me again soon regarding the event and I really hope you will be able to attend.

Steve Purdy

South East Regional President of the PDA

Steve has ambitious plans for his region and wants to make membership of the Association more relevant and worthwhile for those who join.

‘I know from experience how difficult it is for smaller companies to win contracts and grow in size, and I want to use the PDA to help them do this’, says Steve. ‘I want to invite speakers to the meetings who can give advice and guidance to members on the latest thinking in both paint products, legal requirements and also what clients are looking for to help them be more successful.’

Steve has already decided on his first task which is to find out from the South East members just what they would like meetings to focus on so that he can make them more interesting and tailor them to fit their needs so, hopefully, get more people to come along. He would like  membership of the PDA to be seen as a quality standard which guarantees that its members are of a certain standard, and wants to encourage larger managing contractors to use it members when looking for painting and decorating supply chains.

Finally, Steve has a very keen eye on the upcoming work at the Olympics which could, potentially, bring a lot of work for members of the South East region.

‘Topcoat has been lucky enough to get on the approved list for the Olympics work but there were a lot of hurdles to jump through and I think it would be impossible for a smaller contractor with limited resources to qualify, even though they could probably do the work just as well. I want to lobby to get a higher percentage of the work kept locally and to also to set up supply chains so that smaller local contractors get a piece of the action. It is local business rates and local Council taxes that have paid for a lot of the Olympic work so it is only fair that local people and local contractors get to see the benefits as well.’

Steve Purdy and Neil Ogilve The Acting Chief Executive of The Painting and Decorating Association at a recent meeting in London.