Meet our ICorr Assessors: Stuart Fitchet

Next up in our ICorr Assessor series is Stuart Fitchet, who brings over 50 years of coatings industry experience to Corrodere’s ICorr training and assessments.

Here, we speak with Stuart to learn more about his background, his approach to training, and what he enjoys most about supporting the next generation of coating inspectors.

1) Can you tell us about your career in the protective coatings industry?

My journey into the protective coatings industry began after leaving the Royal Navy, when I started working as a Blaster/Sprayer. Over the following 10 years, I worked with various companies and organisations, progressing through supervisory roles and gaining invaluable hands-on experience. This provided me with a strong practical foundation and eventually led to my natural progression into coatings inspection, consultancy and training.

Today, with over 30 years of industry experience, I operate my own business, providing independent coatings inspection, quality assurance, quality control, technical consultancy and specialist training services throughout the UK and internationally.

I hold certifications as an AMPP Senior Certified Coatings Inspector and ICorr Level 3 Coatings Inspector. I am also an AMPP Coatings Inspector Programme (CIP) Course Instructor, a Corrodere Academy QCA Assessor and Course Instructor, and hold Practitioner Grade membership of the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI).

One of my greatest passions is helping others develop their knowledge, practical skills and confidence. Whether working on site, delivering training or conducting assessments, I genuinely enjoy sharing my experience and helping people progress within our industry.

2) How long have you been delivering ICorr training and assessments?

I began delivering ICorr training and assessments with Corrodere Academy in July 2026. Although relatively new to this particular role, I bring over 30 years of practical industry experience, together with my existing background as an AMPP CIP Instructor.

It’s been a very enjoyable and rewarding addition to my training activities, and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to support more people as they work towards achieving their professional qualifications.

3) What does a typical training or assessment day look like for you?

For me, preparation is absolutely essential. Students deserve the very best from their trainers and assessors, and I believe that being organised, approachable and professional helps create a positive learning environment from the outset.

I normally begin preparing the evening before, laying out my inspection instruments and equipment, checking that everything is working correctly and making sure I have everything required for the following day.

That way, when the training or assessment begins, I can concentrate fully on the students rather than worrying about equipment or last-minute preparations.

I still follow an old military saying from my Royal Navy days, which has served me extremely well throughout my civilian career. It’s known as the Seven Ps:

“Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Pretty Poor Performance!”

It’s a simple philosophy, but one I firmly believe in. Good preparation makes for a more professional, enjoyable and productive experience for everyone involved.

4) What do you enjoy most about delivering ICorr training and assessing?

ICorr has always held a special place in my professional journey, as my very first Coatings Inspector certification was achieved through ICorr. So, having the opportunity to now help others work towards their own qualifications is something I find particularly rewarding.

What I enjoy most is seeing people develop their understanding, improve their confidence and begin to make sense of subjects they may initially have found challenging.

I firmly believe that knowledge and experience are most valuable when shared, and there is a great deal of personal satisfaction in knowing that you’ve helped someone take another step forward in their career.

For me, it’s not simply about delivering training or conducting assessments. It’s about encouraging people, sharing practical experience and helping to develop the next generation of competent and knowledgeable coatings professionals.

5) What value do you feel ICorr certification offers students?

I think it’s important to recognise that the various organisations offering Coatings Inspector training and certification each have their own approach to delivering course content and assessing candidates. I don’t necessarily see one approach as being right and another wrong. They simply offer different methods, each with their own advantages and considerations.

One of the particular strengths of the ICorr certification pathway delivered through Corrodere Academy is the flexibility it offers through online learning.

Over recent years, the demand for flexible training has grown considerably. Through conversations with people across our industry, I regularly hear from employers who find it increasingly difficult to release personnel from work for extended periods to attend classroom-based courses. The additional costs of travel and accommodation can also be significant.

For these organisations and individuals, the flexibility offered by Corrodere Academy can make professional training and certification much more accessible, allowing candidates to develop their knowledge and work towards recognised qualifications while managing their existing work and personal commitments.

Ultimately, I believe the most important thing is providing people with opportunities to develop their competence and achieve professional recognition through a training and assessment route that suits their circumstances, without compromising the standards and integrity of the certification process.

6) How do you approach helping students who may be struggling?

Having started my career on the tools and worked my way through various supervisory roles before becoming a certified Coatings Inspector, I understand that some technical subjects can be difficult to grasp, particularly for those who are relatively new to the industry.

Over the years, I’ve developed my own approach to explaining complex subjects by breaking them down into simpler, more practical and easily understood information.

I often draw upon real-life examples from my own experience, as I find that relating technical principles to everyday situations on site can make a tremendous difference to someone’s understanding.

I also believe it’s important to be patient, approachable and encouraging. Everyone learns at a different pace, and nobody should feel uncomfortable about asking questions or seeking clarification.

When delivering training, I always try to create a relaxed and supportive environment where people feel comfortable asking questions and developing their understanding. During formal assessments, however, it’s equally important to maintain fairness, consistency and impartiality, ensuring that every candidate is assessed against the required competency standards while being treated with professionalism and respect.

Whether I’m on site or in the classroom, helping someone reach that moment when everything suddenly makes sense is one of the most satisfying parts of what I do.

I genuinely enjoy helping people learn, and I consider this to be one of my greatest strengths.

7) What advice would you give to someone starting out in the coatings industry?

Keep an open mind, be prepared to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in, and never be afraid of a bit of hard work!

The more effort you put into learning your trade, the more you’ll get out of it. Qualifications and certifications are extremely valuable, but there’s one thing that money simply cannot buy, and that’s genuine hands-on experience.

Don’t worry too much about making mistakes along the way. We’ve all made them, myself included! The important thing is to be humble enough to acknowledge them, take responsibility and, most importantly, learn from them.

Listen to those around you, ask questions, take your time and never stop learning. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience within our industry, and you’ll often find that people are more than happy to share it if you show a genuine interest.

Above all, enjoy the journey. The protective coatings industry has been very good to me over the years, both personally and professionally. It offers excellent career opportunities, rewarding work and the potential to travel and work around the world.

Work hard, stay curious, maintain your integrity and make the most of every opportunity that comes your way. You never know where this industry might take you!

A huge thank you to Stuart Fitchet for sharing his insight into life as an ICorr Trainer and Assessor. We are so pleased to have him as part of the team.