Interview with Andrew Blair
1.What advice would you give other young people looking to get involved in your industry?
Throughout school I always wanted to work with my hands so doing a Modern Apprenticeship seemed an obvious route. Working in the auto repair business is great – it is really challenging and you get a real sense of having achieved something at the end of the day. I would definitely recommend it.
2. How did you get involved with Worldskills?
The training organisation that I was doing my Modern Apprenticeship with, Blackwater House, entered me in an annual competition in Bodyshop Magazine, an industry magazine, which was looking to find the best young panel technician, which I won. By winning this competition, I was then put forward to represent the UK at Worldskills. Before this I knew nothing about Worldskills at all.
3.What opportunities has winning a gold medal brought to you and your employer?
It has certainly helped me. A couple of years ago, the company I worked for went bankrupt. All the people I was working with were worried about where they would go next whereas I was able to hang back because people were actually ringing me offering me work opportunities. Certainly my employer at the moment, Agnews, is benefiting from the advertising and the fact that I am working for them.
4.How do you think the UK will benefit from hosting Worldskills in 2011?
It will definitely help raise awareness of the Worldskills competition, skills in general, and the issue of skills shortages. The trades are not often perceived as being very attractive – young people are more encouraged into professions such as doctors and lawyers. However, we need people who actually make things!
