CONGRATULATIONS JAMIE LAU – Our newly qualified Lab Technician
This spring we’re celebrating success!
You may remember that back in February we marked National Apprenticeship Week by celebrating one of our brightest success stories – Jamie Lau. Since February Jamie has been working hard to finalise his studies, and following an intense two-day assessment, in addition to extensive coursework, we’re proud to announce that Jamie is now a fully fledged Lab Technician and qualified member of the Petrarch team.
This year’s National Apprenticeship theme – Skills for Life – couldn’t be more fitting. Jamie’s journey through the apprenticeship programme has seen him develop his technical expertise, real-world confidence and resilience.
I had the opportunity to catch up with him recently and he shared more insights into what has been a truly intensive yet rewarding moment. Read on to find out more.
So Jamie, congratulations on completing your Level 3!
How does it feel to now be a qualified Lab Technician?
Thanks! It feels amazing. It’s been a long journey, but all the hard work has definitely paid off. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, especially when I think back to how much I’ve developed; not just in terms of my knowledge, but all-round really, it’s been full-on.
Patrick (Operations Director) mentioned that the testing phase of the apprenticeship programme was intensive? Could you talk me through it?
Yes, it was. I was so nervous, I barely slept the night before if I am honest, I felt anxious. I had revised and prepared, but still, it was nerve-racking. Luckily the TIRO team and my direct management team gave me the reassurance I needed. The first day was a mix of adrenalin and anxiety. There was a 3 hour observation stage; it’s strange to carry out your work being analysed, but it’s all a necessary part of the programme. On the second day, there was a 75 minute Q&A with the assessor, along with an interview. I didn’t realise I could speak for that long, however the answers came naturally and I do feel that the apprenticeship has given me the confidence to talk through my reasonings with ease.
What would you say has been one of your biggest accomplishments during your apprenticeship?
Without a doubt having the chance to explore, get to grips and enhance our colour-matching process. It’s one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of the job. You’re not just creating something that looks good, but an end product which stands up to tough tests too, and some colours react very differently. I do enjoy that challenge. Some colours are especially tricky, but I’ve reached a point now where I can approach complex mixes with confidence and get great results. That feels like a real accomplishment. Recently I’ve been working on an exciting project for our US distributor, Omnis, and it’s really opened doors to what we can achieve from a colour perspective, which is extremely rewarding.
Read the full interview here!
https://petrarchpanels.com/jamie-lau-our-newly-qualified-lab-technician/
Key highlights & commendations...
Patrick Golding, Operations Director
“Huge congratulations to Jamie on this brilliant achievement. From day one, he’s shown enthusiasm, determination, and a real eye for detail – especially in the specialist field of colour development. It’s been great to see his skills grow, and we’re thrilled to now have him with us as a qualified Lab Technician. He has played a crucial role in helping to develop our Petrarch panel recipes to date and is very hands-on. What’s remarkable for someone as relatively young as Jamie, is the commercial acumen; that’s rare to find and we are very appreciative of this mindset. Collaboration is also important to Jamie and that’s refreshing, he is a true team player. Thank you also to Trevor, Aaron, and the whole TIRO team for supporting Jamie through this journey.”
Well done Jamie, we couldn't be prouder! Here's to even more success in the future.
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