Meet IMI Skills Competition Heavy Vehicle Technology Gold Medallist 2024, Mihaly Zeke from Watts Truck and Van Cardiff:
Competition experience so far:
“I like to take any new experience I can get the chance to experience, and so far it’s been a really good one. It's been nice going to a new place and to the venue to compete. I think I stuck out a bit on my qualifier day as I was the only DAF Technician there, but I performed the same as I would have any other day, and that was enough. It was challenging working on a new brand of lorry because things looked different, but clear instructions and a logical process, especially on the gearbox task, meant that I enjoyed the challenge."
Career journey so far:
“I grew up here in the UK, but since a young age, I was often around farming equipment and vehicles with my family back in Hungary, and I always liked helping out with tractors; taking things apart and fixing things. I had applied to do an apprenticeship before Covid, but when that happened, I did a bit of work at an independent and doing engine rebuild work. Eventually I was able to apply again and got the job. I could have done something completely different like art which I was interested in, but I’m glad I followed my interests.”
Future aspirations:
"I still have to progress where I am and move up the ladder. And so that’s one path I see. The other option I see is running my own workshop one day. That’s always been something that’s interested me."
Employer and manager comments:
Mihaly's Manager said: "Mihaly is very confident and very calm which lends well to the competition environment. He wanted to put himself forward and we were happy when he went and won the Welsh competition. But to go forward from there and to make it into the UK national final is even better. We’ve been a DAF dealer for years and the brand has always been represented well in the Worldskills, but Mihaly is the first from our depot which is great."
Advice for new apprentices:
"We feel it is really important to set realistic expectations about the working conditions and what’s expected, sometimes a job looks and sounds good on paper but the reality is sometimes very different. So do a bit of research and enjoy the rewarding feeling the job provides.
