How Skills Competitions are Powering Automotive Talent

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been travelling across the country representing the IMI at a series of skills competitions run by Steer Automotive Group and FMG Repair Services.

Whilst I wasn't able to attend the Skills Competition Wales at NPTC Group of Colleges in person, it's important to recognise their dedication to championing skills through their Automotive Technology (Light Vehicle), Automotive Body Repair and Automotive Refinishing competitions.

Grassroots competitions like these are vital for developing confidence, technical excellence and pride in the profession. They also provide a natural stepping stone into the IMI Skills Competition, giving apprentices early exposure to high pressure, real-world tasks and national standards.  

Since 1920, the IMI has been the professional body for people working and learning in automotive, setting the benchmark for excellence across the industry. Seeing these competitions in action reinforces how essential that consistency and alignment are.

Paint, Panel and MET at EMTEC, Nottingham

My first stop was IMI Approved Centre, EMTEC in Nottingham, where Steer Automotive hosted body repair, refinishing and mechanical, electrical and trim (MET) competitions.

There is something particularly encouraging about seeing IMI Approved Centres delivering competitions of this calibre. It demonstrates alignment between employer expectations, training delivery and national professional standards.

The apprentices competing in body repair showed excellent structural repair techniques and panel alignment accuracy, while refinishing competitors demonstrated impressive paint application control, colour matching and finishing standards.

Steve Hoe, Head of Academy & Organisation, Steer Automotive Group added:

“The Steer Apprentice Competition plays a vital role in developing skills and building confidence. We deliberately design the tasks to challenge apprentices in areas where they may feel less assured, helping them understand and meet the standards required in a professional workshop. Competitions like this are essential in pushing our apprentices to reach their full potential and preparing them to perform on the national stage at the IMI Skills Competition.”

Being at an IMI Approved Centre reinforces the wider ecosystem we are building, one where training providers, employers and the professional body work together to raise standards consistently across the sector.

It’s also fantastic to see EMTEC’s commitment recognised more widely, with the centre's Apprentice Support Hub shortlisted for the Championing Inclusion in Automotive award at this year’s IMI Annual Dinner. That acknowledgement reflects the quality of delivery, employer collaboration and learner development that was clearly on display throughout the competition.

"Visiting EMTEC and observing the competition was a great opportunity to see apprentices applying their skills under pressure. From an EPA perspective, it was encouraging to witness such strong alignment with occupational standards in terms of facilities as well as the professionalism shown by staff assessing the tasks."

Andrew Barker, IMI Lead End Point Assessor

MET Mastery at FMG Repair Services, Goole

My next stop was FMG Repair Services’ IMI Approved Technical Training Centre in Goole, where apprentices were competing in the MET discipline, along with body repair and refinishing. 

Walking into the workshop, the energy was focused, intense and quietly competitive. Apprentices worked methodically through complex tasks such as vehicle strip and refit, electrical fault finding, and a brake fitting task.

What struck me most was the professionalism on display: calm under pressure, attention to detail and a clear pride in getting things right first time.

Chris McGowan, Technical Training Manager, FMG Repair Services commented:

"Hosting our own FMG RS Skills Competition is a key part of how we raise standards and develop talent across the business. It gives our apprentices the opportunity to test their technical ability in a structured, high-pressure environment that mirrors real-world workshop expectations. It’s been a pleasure speaking with the apprentices and seeing first-hand the level of skill, focus and professionalism they bring to the competition. Watching them demonstrate their abilities with such confidence reinforces why initiatives like this are so important."

FMG RS consistently nominate high-performing apprentices into the IMI Skills Competition, recognising it as the industry benchmark for validating excellence. Conversations throughout the day focused on how today’s competitors could be tomorrow’s national finalists.

National Finals Atmosphere at Thatcham Research

From Goole, I headed south to Thatcham for the Steer Automotive Group finals, and the scale of the event was immediately apparent.

Finals days bring a different kind of pressure. The margins are tighter, the standard higher, and every decision matters. Watching the apprentices work through demanding body repair, refinishing and MET challenges, it was clear that these finalists had earned their place.

What impressed me most was the consistency of performance across the board. The quality of repairs, the methodical approach to problem-solving and the confidence with which apprentices explained their processes to judges all pointed to a workforce that is becoming ever more capable and professional.

"It’s been a great experience, almost like a mock test for our EPA giving us a real sense of what to expect and where we need to refine our skills. We particularly enjoyed the custom painting element as it was something different from our usual day-to-day work and pushed us creatively. Competitions like this are important in preparing us for the IMI Skills Competition and give us the opportunity to learn, challenge ourselves and stand out. Even from an EPA perspective, being able to add certificates and competition experience to our portfolio really strengthens our profile and helps us differentiate ourselves professionally."

George Briggs, Samuel Cilia, and Hassan Khan, Steer Refinishing Apprentices

An interesting part of visiting the Steer finals was learning about how they created a competition to address a skills gap and to suit the business needs, where they introduced the Vehicle Damage Assessor (VDA) competition.

Joe Baynham, Solera Audatex and VDA Judge noted:

"The VDA role is arguably the most critical function within a workshop environment. Apprentices must demonstrate cross-disciplinary competence, particularly across body repair and refinishing disciplines, in order to accurately diagnose damage, define the complete repair methodology, and generate precise, commercially sound cost estimates. Equally important is customer service, effective expectation management, and the avoidance of overpromising or underdelivering are essential to maintaining customer confidence and repair performance.”

Steer Automotive also has a strong track record of nominating top-performing learners into the IMI Skills Competition, and rightly so. Their internal competitions clearly mirror national standards, making the transition into IMI’s competition structure both natural and aspirational.

"I started out competing in the Steer Apprentice Competition, which then led me through to the IMI Skills Competition where I was proud to come second on my day at the Refinishing National Qualifiers. Now, coming back to judge the Steer refinishing competition feels like a real full-circle moment. Competing helped me massively with my EPA, it taught me how to perform under pressure, manage stress and step outside my comfort zone. You’re given the opportunity to take on challenges you might not experience day-to-day in the workshop, and that makes a huge difference to your confidence and development."

Rosie Smith, IMI Skills Competition Refinishing Competitor

How this feeds into the IMI Skills Competition

At the IMI, we’re passionate about supporting initiatives that raise standards and celebrate the profession. Whether through our own Skills Competitions, centre accreditation, or professional recognition, our focus remains the same; helping people and businesses thrive through learning and skills.

Seeing apprentices compete at this level reinforces how valuable these competitions are for individuals, employers and the wider industry. They build confidence, showcase excellence and create clear pathways into national competitions like the IMI Skills Competition.

Many of the apprentices I met this week would be strong contenders on the IMI stage in future years. Part of my role was speaking to centres and employers about how these events can continue to act as structured stepping stones into our national competition framework.

A huge thanks to FMG Repair Services and Steer Automotive Group for the warm welcome and for putting on such impressive events, and to the trainers, judges and organisers who made them happen.

Most of all, congratulations to every apprentice who took part. The talent I witnessed this week gives me real confidence in the future of automotive, and in the standards we are collectively setting for the profession.

Registration for the IMI Skills Competition will be opening soon, and we encourage employers, centres and training providers to put forward their top learners to compete against the very best in the country.

Find out more about the IMI Skills Competition and how to nominate here.