Employer Profiles: Sam's Employer

Interview with Ross McLean, 16 August 2007

1. Allowing an employee to participate in Worldskills/ MTC obviously requires a significant commitment from yourself. Can you explain your reasons for supporting such involvement?

Bosch, being a world class manufacturer and competing on an international scale, needs to test our trade skills against the global workforce, and Worldskills is the best means to do that.

It’s a terrific concept, we’ve participated a number of times before, including winning regional, national and international gold. The MTC fits well with our industry.

2. How do you think your employee's participation in Worldskills/ MTC has impacted upon their work practices?

Sam is an exemplary apprentice, or was as he’s now a tradesman. He has always been a valuable member of our workforce.

Obviously, it’s motivation for Sam and other apprentices, and his involvement in MTC is what you’d expect from someone performing at his level. He was a good as they come and we’re continuing to see that.

3. Would you recommend Worldskills/ MTC to other/ future employees? Why?

Yes, I would recommend Worldskills to future employees. I would encourage them to participate for two reasons. One - it’s a fantastic personal opportunity, and that shouldn’t be underrated. Secondly, as an organization, it is a useful benchmarking process.

4. Is there anything else you would like to add about Worldskills/ MTC or your employee's involvement?

A large part of Worldskills is the individual achievement. Bosch is very supportive, very much part of the Worldskills competition as well. We are of course intensely proud of our Apprentices achievements.

Worldskills is an excellent concept, greater industry involvement can only lead to greater success in future. Exceptional apprentices can be seen not only as individuals, but as representatives of their employers, and of course their industries.

Samuel Pop has recently changed his employers and now is involved with prototyping, training and promotion of the high technology manufacturing technologies at Chisholm TAFE. This will certainly be challenging but very rewarding for Samuel but it is a direction Samuel wishes to take.

Chisholm TAFE is very supportive of Worldskills and they will fully support Samuel's upcoming training sessions and his trip to Shizuoka as a part of the Australian MTC team.

Worldskills appreciates and recognizes the assistance and support from Robert Bosch Australia, and in particular Ross McLean, head of the apprentice training facility

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