Donna from City of Glasgow College is part of the Squad UK Visual Merchandising team. She explains why she’s enjoyed taking part in our international training programme and the invaluable skills she’s gained.
At school, Donna Blainey was always sure she wanted to work in a creative role and out of the many career options possible, she decided visual merchandising would make the best of her skills. She enrolled at City of Glasgow College as her first step towards this exciting career sector.
Her college tutor introduced her to the idea of WorldSkills UK Competitions and then there was no holding her back. She competed in 2019 at the National Finals as part of WorldSkills UK LIVE at the NEC Birmingham in front of thousands of young spectators and achieved a Bronze Medal reflecting her creativity and dedication.
Donna has enjoyed taking part in WorldSkills UK Competitions saying,
“I’ve loved the whole experience and training. I’ve learned so much including time management, self-confidence and hard work to help me reach my goals.”
Competitions are all about technical skills and overcoming challenges. Asked how she would tell other competition hopefuls how to do this Donna responds, “Training, just keep training.”
The training has certainly paid off for Donna who feels that what she has learned in the competition arena has also improved her performance in the workplace, “Competing has helped me grow within my studies and my attitude towards my work.” Aside from technical skills it is the skills like these including attitude, resilience, time management and team working that employers are looking for when selecting their best recruits.
As one of the national finalists selected to become part of Squad UK Donna is in line for the skills and mindset training that is unique to WorldSkills UK and will prepare her for possible selection to Team UK and the chance to represent the UK on the international stage at either EuroSkills, or WorldSkills against over sixty countries. It’s a prospect that Donna relishes, “I felt so excited and happy to be selected for Squad UK and to have the chance to be selected to represent my country is amazing.”
It’s not just competing that Donna is looking forward to saying, “I would love to have a career in the visual merchandising sector.”
