A team from AkzoNobel visited Northumberland College in Ashington to celebrate a new mural, painted as part of the Let’s Colour initiative run by the global paints and coatings company, in association with Groundwork North East.
AkzoNobel provided paint, materials and equipment for students at the College who designed and painted a huge four-by-eight metre mural on the south side of the main building, the tallest in Ashington. The College is just a mile from AkzoNobel’s state-of-the-art £100m manufacturing plant, which is currently under construction, and due to commence operations in 2014.
Student Jade McCormack was present to celebrate the official unveiling of her design, which was inspired by the Woodhorn Colliery cutter and pit wheel, and includes the Northumberland flag colours as the basis for the background.
Jade was joined by the painting and decorating students who brought the design to life, as well as staff from the college, local MP Ian Lavery, councillors from Ashington Town Council and Northumberland County Council, and employees from AkzoNobel’s nearby manufacturing site. Also joining the celebrations was the iconic Dulux Dog, representing one of AkzoNobel’s best-known UK brands.
Stuart Cutforth, Principal and Chief Executive, Northumberland College, said:
“Projects like this one provide a valuable learning experience for our students through links to industry and the community. In choosing the winning design consultations with the public were held and today's celebration event provides an opportunity to congratulate all of those involved in the project."
Andy Jackson, AkzoNobel Project Director, said:
“We are delighted to bring the ‘Let’s Colour programme’ to Ashington. It is a business-wide approach to inspiring and colouring a million people’s lives across the globe, transforming grey spaces all over the world. It is about sharing the joy of bright and beautiful colours using AkzoNobel’s market leading paint brands, which will soon be manufactured just over a mile away from where we are now at our new £100m Ashington facility.”
Ian Lavery MP said:
“I am delighted to be able to join AkzoNobel’s Let’s Colour Celebration Day at Northumberland College. Both AkzoNobel and the College are extremely important to our local communities and I look forward to them playing a significant role in Ashington and across South East Northumberland for many years to come.”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jade McCormack whose winning design for a mural now adorns the College building.”
