Alex built his career from days at college

ALEX surrounded by the tools of his trade!

IF boys never grow out of their toys then Alex Bidolak is proof that childhood passions can become a career.

The self-confessed “Lego geek” has his dream job — as the master model builder at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Manchester.

He celebrated the 20th anniversary of Oldham Sixth Form College — where he studied ICT, product design, graphic design, geography and general studies — by creating a Lego model of its logo.

Alex, of Firwood Park, Chadderton, who fell in love with the building toy at the age of three, said: “My mum got me my first Lego kit – a pirate ship called the Black Seas Barracuda.”

Alex found out about his dream job on a LEGO blog online. He was working as a postman in Greenfield, but had completed a design degree and remained a keen LEGO user.

“It said Manchester in the UK was looking for a master builder. I was like ‘wow’,” he said. “It combined Lego and Manchester, which I love because I went to university there. It was perfect so I applied for the job.”

In the interview process he had to build a model on the spot of a famous person — preferably with a Manchester theme. The judges were children.

“I thought, ‘what appeals to children? Football’, and at the time my favourite footballer was Ryan Giggs so I made a model of him.”

Alex was the only person to create a 3D rather than a flat model. He got the job and started two months before the centre opened in 2010.

As one of five master builders at five LEGOLAND Discovery Centres in the UK, America and Germany, he is responsible for designing, building and maintaining the stunning displays.

One he recently created — a miniature of MediaCityUK in Salford — was given the royal stamp of approval during a visit by the Queen.

Alex’s ambition is to work in the product and marketing development department at LEGO Group in Denmark as a designer, where new kits and pieces are devised and production authorised.

So what is the enduring attraction? “It’s a toy, fundamentally, but it’s a great tool because you can build anything. It’s just as big as your imagination, he said.

Follow us on Twitter - @OldhamChronicle