Staff Profiles

Mark Humphreys - Director

Mark started his working career with a 5 year toolmaking apprenticeship after leaving school and before starting his own business as a tiler which he run successfully for 18 years.

He became one of the most sought after tilers in the uk with clients prepared to fly him to different parts of the UK as well as abroad because of his outstanding skills.

His projects included everything from domestic bathrooms to ballrooms to Arabian palaces. He was also a Karate instructor for 10 years.

At the end of 2004 he conceived this idea for a tiling school and started it, along with George, in December of the same year. In 2006 PTS won New Business of the Year award in the West Essex Business Awards run by Business Link.

George Lidington - Director

Background includes a 5 year engineering apprenticeship before going into manufacturing management including Quality Manager, Works Manager, Manufacturing Director for a fibre optic connector PLC. Like many people was made redundant so set up his own consultancy practice before setting up his office cleaning and maintenance Company.

While doing his own self build, met Mark Humphreys and did the original business planning for starting up PTS (Training) for Mark. Mark and George started PTS training in November 2004 with their first course starting in January 2005.

Paul Allen - Senior Trainer

I have been working as a decorator for the past thirty years, during which time have gained City and Guilds in advanced decorating, as well as becoming qualified in many other aspects of the decorating trade including the hanging of wide vynils, fixing coving and texturing techniques etc.

Over the years I have had the experience of working in many different places including designer work in Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, marbling and graining in hotels and public houses as well as spending many hours creating themed rooms for clients especially their children.

I have found decorating a truly satisfying career due to the variability of the work involved and the customer satisfaction on completion of each job.

Away from my trade my wife and I enjoy entertaining and the company of our two children and their families, including our five grand children.

My hobbies include golf and until recent years I was very involved in martial arts including Judo, Aikido and have gained a black belt first dan in Kung Fu at the Chuan Chan Do School of Martial Arts.

Caroline Desmond - Trainer

Caroline came into the P&D industry and is qualified in both Advance City and Guilds, all with distinction, she has also won a number of prestigious awards in decorating including The London Builders confederation silver medal-no small achievement! As well as the E-Gostling Cup (best all round craft student) and the Chris Brewers Shield for best painter and decorator.

All this before coming a qualified college lecturer and trainer where she covered interior design, interior décor, special effects as well as painting and decorating for eleven years.