On the rise after career switch
Nick Gillan is proof if you follow your passion you are likely to succeed.
The 23-year-old apprentice pastry chef had almost finished a degree in sports science and psychology at Edith Cowan University when he decided to pursue his dream.
"I was enrolling for my final year and thought 'why am I doing this'," he said. "I asked myself 'what am I good at and what do I enjoy' and baking came up, so I pursued that."
He switched last year. Mr Gillan was not only West Coast Institute's 2014 Apprentice of the Year but also part of an international award- winning baking team.
"I entered a worldwide bread competition in September and I won for the northern region," he said. "I got noticed by the director of hospitality at TAFE.
"He said he liked my attention to detail and needed a pastry chef to go with him to the culinary olympics in South Korea.
"That was brilliant - we won silver and bronze as a team."
Mr Gillan took on an apprenticeship at Lawley's Bakery in bread and pastry in October.
He also completed a combined retail and baking course at West Coast Institute last year.
Stories such as Mr Gillan's are part of this year's Skills West Expo, from September 18 to 20 at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
