WorldSkills UK LIVE is not only home to the largest skills and careers fair in the UK but it is also where the finalists of the IMI Skill Auto competitions take to the stage in their final bid to win Gold!

Come and see the IMI Skill Auto finalists battle it out to be crowned the UK’s top new technician in Automotive Technology, Heavy Vehicle Engineering, Body Repair and Refinishing at WorldSkills UK LIVE, the nation’s largest skills, apprenticeships and careers event!  Taking place at the Birmingham NEC in November 2019, tickets are FREE and will be available here soon.

Make sure you also stop by the IMI Careers stand to get your automotive goodies and talk to the team about #MotorCareers

To order register your interest for the 2019 WorldSkills UK LIVE event, click here – https://www.worldskillsuk.org/

2018 Skill Auto results –

Automotive Technology

• GOLD – Anthony Mailer from Edinburgh College – Employed by Halfords Autocentres
• SILVER – Simon Rohal from South West College – Employed by Pat Kirk
• BRONZE – Adam Campbell from South West College – Employed by Lyons Bro’s
• Andrew Drape from Newcastle College (NCG) – Employed by Elliot MOT
• Michael Bell from South West College – Employed by TJ Hamilton Volkswagen
• Glenn Palmer from South Eastern Regional College – Employed by Terry King & Sons

Automotive Refinishing

• GOLD – Matthew Baldry from S&B Automotive Academy
• SILVER – Jordan Henry from Exeter College – Employed by GPR Repairs
• BRONZE – Henry Dean from Cardiff and Vale College – Employed by Davies Motor Company
• Aubrey Whiteside from Riverpark Training – Employed by Charles Hurst accident and repair
• Alex Kirkwood from Central College Ruddington – Employed by Sytner BMW Nottingham
• Josh Ellison from Grwp Llandrillo Menai

Automotive Body Repair

• GOLD – Sean O’Neill from Riverpark Training- Employed by Wrights Accident Repair Centres Ltd
• SILVER – John Paul Marshall from Edinburgh College – Employed by DLG Auto Services (Direct Line Group)
• BRONZE – Rhys Hider from VW Group Apprentice Programme
• Ruairi Hesketh from Riverpark Training & Development– Employed by Isaac Agnew
• Connor Davison from Riverpark Training & Development – Employed by Fearghas Quinn Hearse and Limousines
• Aminur Chowdhury from Thatcham Research – Employed by DLG Autoservices

Heavy Vehicle Technology

• GOLD – Andrew Jones Lofting from Fife College – Employed by Fife Council
• SILVER – Ryan Sturgess from Stephenson College – Renault – Employed by Volvo Truck and Bus
• BRONZE – James Butler from Skillnet – Employed by Imperial Commercials Garrett Green
• Rob Darroch from Skillnet – Employed by Ellesmere Port Scania
• Steven Davies from Skillnet – Employed by Scania GB
• Callum Younger from Skillnet – Employed by Scania GB

A huge thank you to our Skill Auto sponsors. Without their continued support, we wouldn’t be able to deliver such a fantastic competition.

2019 dates:

• Saturday 4th May
• Saturday 22nd June: Women in Motorsport day
• Saturday 21st September

Come and see a different side to the automotive industry at Santa Pod Raceway in Northampton, the home of the fastest (and loudest) motorsport on earth!

The IMI and Santa Pod are pleased to offer FREE tickets to schools and colleges on selected dates in 2019.

It is recommended that the tickets are offered as a reward for students who demonstrate their commitment in terms of attendance, behaviour and learning while at school/college and are looking for a career in the automotive industry.

You can request your school or college tickets by downloading our booking form – please then just email the completed form to careers@theimi.org.uk

Please note that the tickets are limited and are offered on a first come first served basis so please do book early.  Please also see the above booking form for full terms and conditions.

For details of the race agenda and other information that will help plan your day please visit http://www.santapod.co.uk/ 

2019 dates TBC – contact skillauto@theimi.org.uk for updates!

SKILL AUTO 2018 LIGHT VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY EVENT

Do you want to take a visit to the Henry Ford Academy and see what Skill Auto Light Vehicle Technology is all about? We have 6 spaces open on a first come first serve basis. You will need to get your way to and from the Henry Ford Academy and we will do the rest.

• WHEN: Friday 15th June 2018.
• TIME: 10:00am – 14:00pm (free to leave between the times too if need be).
• WHERE: The Henry Ford Academy, Daventry.
• WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Have a tour of Henry Ford Academy, Enjoy a nice free lunch, have a go at some Skill Auto tasks, speak to the professional judges and take home some freebies!
• HOW DO I GET TO ENTER? Send an email to student@theimi.org.uk or go to the contact us page and let us know what event you are interested in! Hurry, it’s first come first serve! *Free parking is included, details to follow if ticket is won*

SKILL AUTO 2018 HEAVY VEHICLE ENGINEERING EVENT

Do you want to take a visit to Scania Training Centre and see what Skill Auto Heavy Vehicle Engineering is all about? We have 6 spaces open on a first come first serve basis. You will need to get your way to and from Scania Training Centre and we will do the rest.

• WHEN: Friday 20th July 2018.
• TIME: 10:00am – 14:00pm (free to leave between the times too if need be).
• WHERE: Scania Training Centre, Loughborough.
• WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Have a tour of Scania Training Centre, Enjoy a nice free lunch, have a go at some Skill Auto tasks, speak to the professional judges and take home some freebies!
• HOW DO I GET TO ENTER? Send an email to student@theimi.org.uk or go to the contact us page and let us know what event you are interested in! Hurry, it’s first come first serve! *Free parking is included, details to follow if ticket is won*

SKILL AUTO 2018 BODY REPAIR EVENT

Do you want to take a visit to Nationwide Training and Development Centre and see what Skill Auto Body Repair is all about? We have 6 spaces open on a first come first serve basis. You will need to get your way to and from Nationwide Training and Development Centre and we will do the rest.

• WHEN: Friday 29th June 2018.
• TIME: 10:00am – 14:00pm (free to leave between the times too if need be).
• WHERE: Nationwide Training and Development Centre, Yorkshire.
• WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Have a tour of Nationwide Training and Development Centre, Enjoy a nice free lunch, have a go at some Skill Auto tasks, speak to the professional judges and take home some freebies!
• HOW DO I GET TO ENTER? Send an email to student@theimi.org.uk or go to the contact us page and let us know what event you are interested in! Hurry, it’s first come first serve! *Free parking is included, details to follow if ticket is won*

SKILL AUTO 2018 REFINISHING EVENT

Do you want to take a visit to 3M Technical Centre and see what Skill Auto Refinishing is all about? We have 6 spaces open on a first come first serve basis. You will need to get your way to and from 3M Technical Centre and we will do the rest.

• WHEN: Friday 1st June.
• TIME: 10:00am – 14:00pm (free to leave between the times too if need be).
• WHERE: 3M Technical Centre, Warwickshire.
• WHAT’S INCLUDED?: Have a tour of 3M Technical Centre, Enjoy a nice free lunch, have a go at some Skill Auto tasks, speak to the professional judges and take home some freebies!
• HOW DO I GET TO ENTER? Send an email to student@theimi.org.uk or go to the contact us page and let us know what event you are interested in! Hurry, it’s first come first serve! *Free parking is included, details to follow if ticket is won*

Could your school or college design, brand and launch a new vehicle onto the market for a target audience?

If the answer is yes then this IMI Competition is for you! 

Download your pack HERE

Thanks to competition sponsor Sytner Careers

The Competition

In this Business and Enterprise competition teams of up to 6 students will research, design and strategically plan the launch of a new vehicle designed for a specific target audience to bring to the market.  Vehicles will be required to have a unique selling point for their chosen audience and include visuals and a plan to launch at an event.

Pupils will be supported through the project by working through the downloadable competition planner to get the most out of the team’s ideas.

The competition will focus and improve core skills such including teamwork, communication, leadership, employability and life Skills.  Roles within the teams include Project Manager, Marketing, Researcher, Administration, Designer, ICT coordinator and Presenter.

The Prize

The winning team plus their teacher will be treated to an automotive industry related experience day out.  Previous prizes have included a day trip for the wining team plus their teacher at Mercedes Benz World.  During the day the team were treated to a VIP experience seeing exhibitions, using simulators and even a driving track experience!

Closing Date

Your 2019/2020 entry will need to be in before Friday 24th July 2020 for your chance to win!

Teacher & Tutor Information

This competition can be run as a 90 minute lesson to support a Business Studies course, an extra-curricular activity or a group term project.

A competition brief, student planner, lesson plan and PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded to use in class  HERE

If you have any questions please get in touch with the Careers Team careers@theimi.org.uk or call 01992 511521

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT VEHICLES WILL BE POPULAR IN 2050?

What will they look like?  How will they run?  Will they have some features that are yet to be invented?

Download your pack HERE 

THE COMPETITION

The Institute of the Motor Industry is asking primary school children to get creative and design a poster to promote their own car for the future.

STEP 1 – Plan and design the look of your vehicle

STEP 2 – Name your vehicle

STEP 3 – Create a logo for your vehicle

STEP 4 – List 3 new features “of the future” for your vehicle

STEP 5 – Put all of these ideas together to design a fun poster advertising your vehicle of the future

THE PRIZE

An amazing automotive related prize will be awarded to the winner!  Thanks to competition sponsor Sytner Careers

COULD YOU BE THE NEXT UK CHAMPION? 

IMI Skill Auto is run by the Institute of the Motor Industry in conjunction with World Skills and finds the top new talent within the industry in:

• Light Vehicle Automotive Technology
• Automotive Body Repair
• Automotive Refinishing
• Heavy Vehicle Technology

The Competition

Stage 1: NOMINATION March 1st-April 5th Centres, Employers register with WorldSkills UK their nominees for the competition here:  https://www.worldskillsuk.org/ 

Stage 2: ONLINE KNOWLEDGE  QUIZ nominees will be sent a link to the online test which they need to complete 30 multiple choice questions in 30 minutes by 5th April.

Stage 3: NATIONAL QUALIFIERS The top 30 scorers (Light Vehicle Automotive Technology) and the top 18 scorers (Vehicle Refinishing, Automotive Body Repair & Heavy Vehicle Engineering) from the online test will then be invited to attend a one day practical National Qualifier where they will complete 6 tasks and be scored by judges to showcase their practical skills and abilities. These events are held across the UK in prestigious venues and will require an overnight stay which will be booked and paid for by the competition.

Stage 4: FINAL The top 6 competitors from each stream at the National Qualifiers will then progress to the live UK final held at WORLDSKILLS UK LIVE (formerly known as the Skills Show) at the Birmingham NEC, the largest skills and careers show in the UK. The finalists will be tested on their practical and theoretical knowledge over 2 days alongside 64 other competitions and crowds of over 80 thousand visitors.

Stage 5: On Saturday evening the Bronze, Silver and Gold medals will be awarded to the IMI Skill Auto winners!

Please note –  will book and pay for your hotel accommodation and food at the national qualifier and final events.

Eligibility

IMI Skill Auto competitors must be either:

• currently studying towards a Level 3 qualification OR
• have achieved a Level 3 qualification within the last 12 months (from the 1^st March)

In addition competitors must have the drive and passion to be the best in the industry.  If you meet the above criteria then the IMI Skill Auto competition is for you!

Progression to World Skills  The route into the World Skills International UK Squad is by competing in the IMI Skill Auto Finals at WORLDSKILLS UK LIVE.  Entry requirements – competitors must be under the age of 22 in the year of the World Skills competition.

For more information on the World Skills competition please click HERE.

Key Dates

2019 competition dates

• Nominations and Online Test: 1 March 2018 – 5 April 2019
• High scoring online test entries invited to attend a one day National Qualifier between May and July 2019
• Refinishing National Qualifiers: 20 May – 24 May 2019 at 3M Technical Centre
• Heavy Vehicle Technology National Qualifiers: 10 – 14 June 2019 at MAN Training Centre
• Body Repair National Qualifiers: 24 – 28 June 2019 at Nationwide Training and Development Centre
• Technology National Qualifiers: 8 – 16 July 2019 at Toyota Lexus Academy
• Finalists announced: 1st September 2019
• Employer visits: September & October 2019
• Finals at WORLDSKILLS UK LIVE in Birmingham NEC: 20 November 2019 – Familiarisation Day, 21-22 November 2019 – Competition Days, 23 November 2019 – Showcase Day & Closing Ceremony

Contact the IMI Skill Auto team

If you are an employer, lecturer or trainer and you’d like to be involved with judging or supporting our competitions, then please contact the IMI Skill Auto team at skillauto@theimi.org.uk or call us on 01992 511521

To find out about how to nominate for the 2019 competition, email the IMI Skill Auto team on skillauto@theimi.org.uk or telephone 01992 511521

To order your free tickets to WorldSkills UK LIVE please click here

View the images from the Skill Auto events, click on the image below –