We recently caught up with Tyler Pekin the ICM Geelong Gordon Apprentice of the Year. 

What made you want to become a cabinetmaker?

Tyler – Well I grew up with Dad being a cabinet maker so I guess I was always in the garage not always helping, probably distracting, but still being in the environment.

I figured out pretty quickly that I was a lot better at hands-on tasks than just sitting in a classroom being told what to do.

The be all and end all of me wanting to be a cabinet maker though was that I knew how much variety the job has on offer and that I would never get bored of doing it. 

What do you like most about your job?

Tyler – It would probably be seeing the end product of a kitchen that you built from plans on a piece of paper to a great area that the client is over the moon about.

Would you recommend an Apprenticeship to other school leavers?

Tyler – I definitely would. I feel that it is a great opportunity to get a really good head start in life.

I think leaving school really opened up my eyes to everything the real world has to offer.

Trust me when I say it’s harder than school life but I wouldn’t change it.

ICM Geelong Gordon Apprenticeship Awards

Tyler Pekin from SCLK, was awarded 2022 Apprentice of the Year.  Held annually, the ICM Geelong Gordon Apprenticeship Awards is an opportunity to recognise Geelong’s best cabinetmaking Apprentices. Find out more about the 2022 Apprenticeship Awards. 

Want to become a cabinetmaker? 

To find out more about an Apprenticeship in Cabinetmaking visit The Gordon website.