This significant project aimed to enhance the hall’s aesthetic and functional quality, ensuring it can continue to support local groups effectively.

The project involved comprehensive flooring work, which included sanding and preparing the floor surface, applying a hard-wearing floor stainer, varnishing to provide a durable finish, and adding demarcation and white lining on the floor for clear visibility.

The work was carried out by 2nd-year trade and BAE Systems apprentices under the supervision of the College’s experienced lecturing team. All materials used for the project were generously supplied by Crown Paints Paisley, ensuring that the best quality products were applied to deliver a durable and professional result.

Sam O’Kane, a 2nd-year apprentice with Scott Bros Painting & Decorating, expressed his enthusiasm for the project saying

"This is my second community project with WCS, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. I work for a small local company and don’t often get the chance to work with different products like stainer and varnish, so it was really valuable to add this experience to my portfolio. Plus, John always buys us a breakfast roll, which is a bonus!"

Lucas Andrews, a 2nd-year apprentice from BAE Systems, also shared his thoughts on the experience,

"I didn’t know WCS was involved in these kinds of community activities. It’s amazing to give back to the community, and being part of the latter stages of the project was a great experience."

The Painting Department’s lecturers highlighted the importance of such projects in the apprentices' learning journey. Head of Construction and Building Services, Nicola Murray, said:

“We are extremely proud of the apprentices’ commitment and the high standard of work they have delivered on this project. It’s vital for students to get hands-on experience in real-world environments, and being able to contribute to the local community adds an extra layer of fulfilment to their training.”

This initiative marks another successful collaboration between West College Scotland and the local community, providing students with valuable practical experience while enhancing facilities that serve a wide range of groups in our community.