Part of the National Apprenticeship Service

TeamUK Results 2011

5 Gold
2 Silver
6 Bronze

Biography

Pat Phillips

Northern Ireland
Skill: 
Carpentry
Home Town: 
County Down
constructionskills.jpg

 

Qualifications: 

Carpentry Advanced Craft HNC in Building Studies Diploma in Management.

Memberships : 

Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists Institute of Carpenters

Are you City & Guilds qualified?: 
Yes
What involvement have you had with competitions?: 

I was involved in promoting and judging regional and national competitions for over 20 years. I have been a world skills training manager and judge since 1999.

Who would you like to thank for their support?: 

Many thanks is to all the highly motivated and committed lecturers who invested a lot of time working with their students to enable them to reach their potential.

What made you take on this role?: 

I took on this role due to my earlier success in regional/national competitions and world skills competitions.

Why do you think WorldSkills is important?: 

It enables highly skilled young people to showcase their talents on a world stage.

What do you enjoy most about your role?: 

Meeting like minded people from around the world and working with the best young people in the U.K.

How has this year differed to WorldSkills Calgary 2009?: 

World skills is improving at every cycle so every time is different. As the support from UK Skills improves the experience improves.

How are you using this experience in your workplace?: 

I bring back my experience by creating personal contacts and networking. I also deliver some competition specific courses to colleges.

What do you think being part of this process does for young people?: 

It boosts their confidence and makes them top class tradesmen.

What sets a WS competitor apart from your average young person?: 

A WS competitor is highly motivated and skilled.

What would be your message to industry about entering future competitions?: 

All companies can benefit greatly from the enhanced skill level of their staff and the marketing and promotional potential of having world skills competitors.

What impact will WorldSkills London 2011 have on your industry?: 

WorldSkills London will raise awareness of vocational training and give the construction industry a boost which is much needed in the current financial climate. It will increase the public’s respect for skills and for the training that takes place in colleges throughout the UK.

What are your personal achievements: 

Becoming the Head of School of Apprenticeship Training and WorldSkills Expert.

Something we didn’t know about you...: 

I used to work for a concert promoter and build stages for all the big stars including Michael Jackson, U2, and the Rolling Stones. I worked at the stages for the Bolshoi Opera in Glasgow and the Kirov Ballet in London. Before the ExCel Centre was built it was the venue for a massive outdoor concert for Jean Michel Jarre.