World Skills Awardee Brendon Woodward spent an incredible seven weeks travelling across Europe improving his baking skills. From Glasgow to Paris, Brendon worked with experts in his chosen field and mastered new techniques, while experiencing new cultures along the way. Read Brendon’s full report of his trip here, or browse some excerpts below.

“Going overseas to learn and work wasn’t something that was of immediate interest to me up until September 2016. I was competing in a national baking competition that had a 1st prize of a trip to Paris! It was a team competition and we were confident of winning, but as it turned out, finished 2nd. That really lit a spark to want to go abroad.

I wanted to learn and see in person that quality of bakeries and patisseries around the world, especially France. I wanted to learn more about sourdough and long fermentation breads and also visit patisseries. Patisserie is something that I have wanted to learn and since arriving home I have followed up on that.”