IMI Skills Competitions: the winners

The curtain has come down on the 2023 IMI Skills Competitions final! It was another huge success, showcasing some of the best young talent in the industry and now we know who the winners and runners up are.

Run annually, they are designed to raise standards, esteem and levels of expertise in technical skills across four streams of competition: light vehicle technology, automotive body repair, automotive refinishing and heavy vehicle technology.

Having been nominated by their tutor or employer, each competitor completed an online quiz, took part in a one-day practical national qualifier and underwent training days and employer visits. The finalists then came together in Manchester the practical live final for World Skills UK. They completed their final six tasks in front of a team of volunteer judges to find out who would take the outright victory.

And the winners and runners up in each category are…

Automotive Body repair

Bronze: Alec Macleod - Edinburgh College - Highland Motors Ltd

Silver: Robert Gray - Riverpark Training and Development (NI) LTD - Howell Accident Repair Centre

Gold: Adrian Matthews - S&B Academy - Ultimate Accident Repairs Services

Heavy Vehicle Technology

Bronze: Harry Cooper - Sparshatt Academy - Sparshatt Truck & Van

Silver: Aleksander Zielchowski - Remit College - Purfleet Commercials Ltd

Gold: Ben Turner - Skillnet Limited - Harris DAF

Light Vehicle Technology

Bronze: Elliot Ritchie - Calex UK (Learning & Development) - Western Mazda

Silver: Ryan Cullen - Southwest College - A L Services

Gold: Oliver Young - UHI Perth - J&R Autos Services

Automotive Refinishing

Bronze: Declan Phillips - GTA Apprenticeships - BCA Fleet Solutions Limited

Silver: Victoria Steele - NPTC Pontardawe - Sinclair

Gold: Oisin McKerr - Southern Regional College - Porters Bodyshop

Eligible finalists will now have the possibility to join Team UK and compete at the World Skills International competition to be held in Lyon in September 2024.

Think you have what it takes to win gold, head to the IMI Skills Competitions to find out more