Jonathan Hurford-Potter, Finance Director, WorldSkills London 2011

Jonathan Hurford-Potter, Finance Director, WorldSkills London 2011 discusses what WorldSkills London 2011 means to him and his impressions of WorldSkills Calgary 2009:

WSL2011: What is your biggest challenge as Finance Director of WSL2011?

JHP: The event in London has a budget of £40M and the Government is currently funding around 25% of the costs. The balance needs to be obtained through Sponsorship and whilst not my area of responsibility, I am the recipient and custodian of the funds secured. I need to ensure both a balanced budget (cost and revenue) and more importantly keep a tight rein on cash flow to ensure that I can pay suppliers and staff salaries on time! Well someone has to do it!

WSL2011: What excites you most about being Finance Director of WorldSkills London 2011?

JHP: To be part of in International event and ensure along with the rest of the 2011 team that we deliver a superlative event to time, budget and quality standards. We are a fairly small dynamic team and it makes a huge change from my previous role working on a payroll system for the Armed Forces.

WSL2011: Having seen WSC2009, can you describe your impressions of a WorldSkills Competition for people who have not seen one before?

JHP: I just couldn't believe the scale of it! Just try to imagine a garage with around 30 identical cars on ramps being worked on simultaneously by competitors from all over the world. Then consider the same for landscape gardening, cooking, bricklaying, dressmaking etc. The opportunity to compare and contrast the progress of competitors and see the exceptional skills and talent in people so young is awesome.

WSL2011: If you were a competitor, which skill would you compete in?

JHP: I have a vested interest here. I own a 1965 Ford Anglia – light blue as featured in Harry Potter – and it is rather rusty. To compete in car painting and bodywork repair would enable me to restore my vehicle to an “as new” condition. Not sure my wife, Sarah, would agree though. She would prefer me to compete in jewellery and to take the Anglia to the Council recycling point or obtain £2,000 through the Government “scrapage” scheme!

WSL2011: If you could sum up in five words why WorldSkills London 2011 is important, what would you say?

JHP: Inspire young people to excel (in ExCeL!)