IMI Skills Competition
Body Repair
Body Repair tasks include Welding and Brazing, Bonding and Riveting, Part Panel Replacement, Metal Finish Repairs, Panel Fill Repairs as well as looking at soft skills such as problem solving and time management.
Listen to our 2024 Body Repair Gold Medalist, Jordan Lingham
Jordan Lingham from Sinclair Group won gold in the Body Repair category at last year's IMI Skills Competition 2024. Watch our video and hear all about his experience and what the competition meant to him.
Do you have a talented young student who you think would excel in the competition? Nominate them and help them progress in their career and excel in the automotive sector.
Meet the 2024 Body Repair finalists
Jordan Lingham, gold medalist
Meet Jordan Lingham, from Sinclair's Bodyshop and Body Repair and 2024 Gold Medalist at the IMI Skills Competition.
Arran Cooper, silver medalist
Meet Arran Cooper from Steer Automotive and Automotive Body Repair 2024 Silver Medalist at the IMI Skills Competition.
Owen Thomas, bronze medalist
Meet Owen Thomas from BP Rolls and Automotive Body Repair 2024 Bronze Medalist at the IMI Skills Competition.
How does the competition benefit students?
Top tips for winning gold from a Worldskills judge
Hear from 2023 Bronze Medalist, Alec Macleod
Meet previous Body Repair Gold Medalists
Adrian Matthews from S&B Academy and Ultimate Accident Repairs Services
Automotive Body Repair Gold medallist Adrian tell us about his experience at the IMI Skills Competition:
What was it like competing in the IMI Skills Competitions finals?
As stressful and tiring as it was, was a relaxed environment. Meeting the different competitors definitely helped ease my nerves as everyone was feeling the same but talking to each other about how we were feeling, what we were and weren’t looking forward to made things a whole lot better.
How did it feel to take home gold?
To be honest it still hasn’t sunk in. Hearing my name being called, although I felt like I had done well in the competition did come as a shock. I’m very grateful to be given the chance and to have won gold makes the whole thing worth it.
How have you found your training?
It was pretty smooth sailing, it’s definitely helped my being in and around body shops from a young age as I was familiar with the setting and processes. I was pretty apprehensive about starting but once I started I found a lot of other people in the same boat as me.
Meet Ieuan Morris-Brown from Cardiff and Vale College
Ieuan credits his early interest in the automotive sector to his dad, who has always been into cars. Ieuan had his first experiences watching and learning from his dad and eventually entered into the sector after finishing school into his first apprenticeship.
Ieuan made the most of the opportunity at IRG which he had heard about from friends at college, and he showed the courage to approach the company in person to ask for an opportunity. He clearly made an impression on his Manager, Matt, who saw in Ieuan a mix of qualities that he knew would make an exceptional apprentice. Now as one of the six best Body Repair apprentices in the country, that certainly proved to be the case!
Ieuan‘s advice for others interested in automotive:
Ieuan said: “Keep trying, and make the most of any opportunity you get. There’s always something new to learn and literally every job you do is different in body repair. Even if you had the same car in every day, every repair we work on is unique and you get to see transformation’s from a crash damaged wreck all the way through to going back out to a customer as good as, sometimes better than, new.”
Meet Tiler Moorcroft Jones from Grwp Llandrillo Menai and Body Perfect
Tiler was excited about the industry but initially chose Public Services at college. He changed careers as he wanted to earn money and start a career. He isn’t sure yet what the future holds but enjoys competitions and said it has been interesting so far and exciting to be able to excel in something.
During Covid, Tiler was furloughed for a while however his employer wanted to keep the apprentices practical skills and learning in check so brought them back to undertake restoration work on a number of client’s vehicles whilst no insurance work was there. Tiler really enjoyed this and said that older vehicles were simpler to work on but messier.
Access preparation tests and activities to help with your learning
Tools and resources
Download the Body Repair digital pack with helpful support and information on the competencies required, and more details of the types of tasks you will be asked to complete at all levels:
The Learning Lab
Enhance learner preparation with pressure tests to help master their technical skills, and mindset masterclasses to build personal skills.
Look back at our 2024 Body Repair Qualifiers:
