Builder on World Stage
As the 47th WorldSkills competition ended in the French city of Lyon, Portland builder and business owner Jayme Cannon was left in awe of what he was able to experience. WorldSkills 2024, the largest international skills competition featuring over 1,400 competitors from almost 70 countries and regions around the world, was a showcase of excellence in young skilled talent.
While Jayme is the current Australian gold medalist in carpentry, awarded at the National Championships in Melbourne in August this year, he was ineligible to compete due to his age (23). Instead, Jayme attended Lyon as the newly appointed Westvic Staffing Solutions Ambassador, providing support to the Australian team and delivering his insight on the Australian Apprenticeship System.
“Meeting people from all over the world and being able to share my experiences as an apprentice and new business owner was a unique opportunity for me,” said Jayme. “I was blown away by the size and scale of the venue and the quality of the work being delivered by the competitors across so many industries”.
The event also creates an invaluable opportunity for industry, education, and government leaders to interact and share information on a global scale. The WorldSkills Conference provided a platform for Jayme to share his experiences as an apprentice, and as a new business owner employing his own apprentice, through several speaking engagements. In particular, Jayme spoke about the Group Training model of apprenticeship engagement where he was employed and mentored by Westvic Staffing Solutions while working with a host employer.
“I was given a once in a lifetime opportunity by Westvic to share my experiences with people from all over the world. The Group Training model was a new concept to many in the room and I was able to speak about the support I received as an apprentice, and now as a young business owner employing my own apprentice”.
As governments and industry leaders from all parts of the world grapple with skills shortages, it is increasingly important to gain insights from young people about the support they need to navigate the vocational education and training pathways. Westvic Staffing Solutions CEO, Dean Luciani, explained the merits of the Ambassador program his company offers.
“We needed to provide an opportunity for young people to share their experiences and the ambassador program was the perfect avenue to do this. We are delighted to have Jayme as Westvic’s Ambassador. He has represented our organisation very well and will assist other apprentices and young business owners through the sharing of his story”.
Jayme wants all young people to try new skills and to expand their career options.
“All young people should get the opportunity to experience a trade, whether it be in building, electrical, cooking, plumbing, engineering, mechanical, or other fields where you can use your hands. Just having a go at something new can open your eyes to a vocation that you can be truly passionate about”.