Big or small, repair businesses can be instrumental in shaping the next generation of collision talent.
WorldSkills Australia Gold medallist Jack Richards shows no matter how niche the business, with the right support and relationships, the sky is the limit for our best young apprentices.
Mentoring is a valuable part of many young careers in automotive repair, but few can demonstrate as close a relationship as the one Jack Richards enjoys at Sydney Classic Car Restoration. With owner Grant Browan, they make up a two-man team that specialises in hand crafted repairs at the business in Connabarabran.
Ironically, despite having had a love of cars since an early age, it wasn’t a career path Jack had taken active steps toward until his mother asked him to help an uncle who was assisting in the business moving into town.
Unexpected pathways
“I’d just finished school and my mother sent me around to help him unload trailers and set up all the gear that Grant’s got,” Jack recalls.
“And he put me on from there and began showing me all the stuff he can do. And I thought, ‘I like doing that’, so I stuck with it and he gave me an apprenticeship.”
Jack will go into fourth year of his panel technician apprenticeship in November and recalls the first years were a steep learning curve but years that progressed in an atmosphere of support, where he was never afraid to ask.
“There was a lot to pick up at the time, but Grant’s made it pretty easy for me,” Jack says.
“He always gives me the time to show me how to do stuff, and if I don’t know something, I just go and ask him. He puts down whatever he’s doing and shows me how to do it.”
This support includes the invariable mistakes that newcomers are likely to make.
“When I was in first year, I was trying to make this panel for a car, and I had done it all wrong. It did end up costing Grant a bit of money for time and labour, but he didn’t lose it at me. He was supportive and spent time telling me how to do it properly. And so, I went on and did a pretty good job the second time. I learned from it and I don’t think I really make many mistakes anymore.”
“It makes me feel pretty good, knowing that I’ve always got him and his support there.”
National perspective
One of the most thrilling parts of his development has been his entry into competition, another element where his boss has been generous and encouraging.
“He’s never told me I can’t do something,” Jack says. “If I get signed up for something or I need to do something, he always says ‘Do whatever you need to do.’ He gives me the time and offers whatever I need.”
Jack’s initial foray into WorldSkills competitions was also done with the assistance of MTA NSW, who signed him up for a regional competition, where his performance was so impressive he was soon heading to the National Championship in Brisbane in June.
“I’ve never been away to very many places, so to go somewhere that far away for a competition and then end up winning. It was pretty bloody cool.”
Jack says the WorldSkills Australia National Championships’ atmosphere was a fabulous experience in honing his own skills but learning from many of the other competitors in automotive.
“I got to see more of the spray paint stuff, and what they have to do, as we were right next to each other in the building,” he says. “It’s great to see what comes from us in panel repair and then goes to them.”
He says the level of competition can be initially intimidating but the excitement of doing things well should be encouraged for all young skilled apprentices.
“It’s definitely worth the risk and getting entered into things. I’d encourage anybody to do that.”
After his win in Brisbane in the Autobody section, Jack has been selected to train with the Skillaroos squad and will now aim to win a place on the international team and compete in Shanghai in 2026. The WorldSkills global competition is often referred to as the Olympics of trade skills and pits thousands of young talented competitors against each other in hundreds of trades.
“I am definitely hoping that I’ll be picked to go to China and do that sort of thing. I’m sure I’ll give it my best shot.”
While the competition is a thrilling part of the job, Jack is most often motivated by an artisan’s satisfaction in a job well done.
“It’s always good, you see what you’ve done and how well you’ve done the job. That makes you feel pretty good.”
Opening pathways
He hopes more young people will tap into the pleasure of working with their hands, at the same time filling essential roles.
“It would be great for them to learn and find out how helpful a skill is to have, to be able to fix cars and fix panels. There is all this stuff you can learn that can actually help you in your life.”
He also sees careers in automotive repair as practical but vital roles that will have longevity.
“It seems to be that a lot of jobs are sort of getting taken over by AI but you can’t really do that in this industry. With skills, you’re never going to be out of a job.
For the present, Jack is concentrating on completing his apprenticeship. It has been a four-year journey where he highlights the support he has had from the MTA NSW, ensuring his training is complete and up to date.
“They’ve been very supportive and make it pretty easy for me,” he says.
But even when this is complete, he is in no hurry to rush off from Sydney Classic Car Restoration given the wealth of knowledge and craftsmanship that resides there.
“I think I’ll end up staying with Grant, if he’ll have me, and see where I go from there. He’s got so much he can show me.”