Search begins for national automotive champion

Three talented SERC Motor Vehicle Apprentices, Gareth Rea, Glenn Palmer and Christie Boyle, will fly to the Volkswagen Group National Learning centre in Milton Keynes on 18 May for the National Qualifiers of the IMI Skill Auto Competition 2017, part of World Skills UK.

The talented trio will be assessed on six tasks, designed to reflect the knowledge of apprentices working towards a level 3 light vehicle vocational qualification.   

Having successfully completed an online test and gaining above benchmark scores, the trio qualified to compete at the live National Qualifiers event where they will be accompanied by their tutor Alan Kerr.  

The IMI Skill Auto competitions set out to identify the most talented young apprentices working in the automotive sector. Run annually they are designed to raise standards, esteem and levels of expertise in technical skills across four streams of competition, Automotive Technology, Automotive Body Repair, Automotive Refinishing and Heavy Vehicle Engineering.

From an initial entry of over 300, 84 individuals took part in the practical heats in the Spring with only 24, 6 from each skill area, being invited to the national finals and the possibility of becoming UK Champion.

The competition provides an opportunity for automotive apprentices to demonstrate the technical skills required to be a successful modern-day technician. Competitors are required to work on a selection of cars and components carrying out various tasks, which will test their skills and abilities.

SERC would like to congratulate the apprentices on getting this far and wish them well for the prestigious upcoming event where they will compete to progress through to the final on 16th-18th November at the Skills Show held at the NEC, Birmingham.

SERC provides a range of full and part-time courses designed to give students’ the edge’. To find out how SERC can help you ‘get the edge’ call 0345 600 7555, visit www.serc.ac.uk or find us on Facebook, search: SERC.