I caught up with Andy Bugeja, Director of Education Excellence at The The Gordon, whose journey spans trades, entrepreneurship, and leadership in vocational education. We spoke about resilience, apprenticeships, and the evolving future of skills and training.
đź“Ť Q: You spent more than a decade running your own plumbing business before moving into education. What motivated the shift from running a trade business to shaping the next generation of tradespeople?
Andy: “My story is deeply connected to my mental health journey. From about 15 to 35, I struggled with mental health challenges and it began affecting my business and my life. At some point I realised I needed something different. I had apprentices working with me and I always enjoyed mentoring them, so teaching felt like a natural progression. In 2019 I went back to study and also sought help for my mental health.
That decision changed everything. I started teaching, then gradually moved into leadership roles. Most of my personal growth really began in my mid to late thirties. The Gordon gave me opportunities to step into leadership within the plumbing department and it all unfolded quite naturally.”
đź“Ť Q: As Director of Education Excellence at The Gordon, how do you ensure vocational education stays aligned with what industry actually needs?
Andy: “The employment landscape is changing very quickly. Across the TAFE network we are constantly asking how we can make programs more aligned with real industry needs. That means creating specialised skills within trades and adapting training so graduates are ready for the workforce.
One of the biggest challenges we face is retention and completion of apprenticeships. Around half of apprentices leave before finishing. That raises important questions about how we support them better. We need to rethink parts of the system, including how programs are structured and delivered.”
📍 Q: You’ve seen the industry from the tools, the classroom, and leadership roles. What skills do young apprentices today need that weren’t as important when you started?
Andy: “When I started, certain values were ingrained in first year apprentices. Things like punctuality, attitude, and work ethic. Over time I’ve seen some of those fundamentals fade. There is sometimes an expectation now to jump straight into complex tasks early on.
Employers still have a responsibility to train and mentor apprentices properly. It cannot all be pushed onto TAFE. Industry and education need to work together to help apprentices grow step by step.”
đź“Ť Q: One message for the world
Andy: “You will always get ahead with hard work. Opportunities are there, but you have to seek them.”
✨ Key Takeaway:
Andy’s story is a reminder that career pivots often come from moments of personal reflection. By combining industry experience with education leadership, he is helping reshape how the next generation of tradespeople learn, grow, and succeed.
