Gold medallists announced at the UK's largest skills event

In front of 75,000 visitors, eighteen competitors have competed across three work streams (Auto Refinishing, Auto Body and Auto Tech) to be crowned the best automotive apprentice in their field. Their knowledge and skills have been tested to the limit as well as their time management, technical efficiency and not to mention their ability to cope under the pressure of working in front of thousands of NEC visitors.

Davie Massie MIMI, Skills Competition Manager, said:

"The 2015 IMI Skill Auto competition has been the best yet and my thanks go to everyone involved in helping deliver a showcase event. The real stars though were our finalists. They all demonstrated the exceptional talent we have within our sector and represented themselves and our industry very positively. Some now move on to train for the international squad who will compete in Abu Dhabi in 2017, but I wish them all very best for what I’m sure will be a bright future for each and every one of them."

AUTO TECH

GOLD - Connor McGaughey; trained at: South West College-Omagh; employer: Kelly's Garage
SILVER - Ben Brown; trained and employed at: North Warwickshire and Hinckley College
BRONZE - Seamus Goodfellow; trained at: South West College-Omagh; employer: Ballina Car Auto Repair

AUTO BODY

GOLD - Andrew Gault; trained at: Riverpark Training; employer: Glenn Allen Car Body Repairs, Cookstown
SILVER - Andrew McClure; trained at: Riverpark Training; employer: Wrights ARC, Dundonald
BRONZE - Leon Smith; trained at: Cardiff and Vale College; employer: Renovate Body Repairs, Llanelli

AUTO REFINISHING

GOLD - Adam Litchfield; trained at: Cardiff and Vale College; employer: NSW Accident Repair Centre, Cardiff
SILVER - Jonathan McNaugher; trained at: Riverpark Training; employer: Nigel Whann ARC, Ballymena
BRONZE - Jake Brewster; trained at: Chesterfield College; employer: Joe Black's 8 Ball Custom Paintwork, Ripley

World Skills 2017 UK squad

These 200 people, who were selected on the basis of their success at UK Skills 2015 and 2014, will begin training with the aim of representing Team UK at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi in October 2017.

IMI would also like to thank key companies supporting the competition including Würth and Morelli.