IMI Skills Competition
Searching for the top new talent in the sector
IMI Skills Competition celebrate the new talent in the UK automotive sector and showcase learning that tutors and employers’ input into their staff. The competition opens doors and enhances future talent and skills with benefits for all involved.
IMI Skills Competitions 2025
The IMI Skills 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, light vehicle technology, heavy vehicle technology, automotive body repair, and automotive refinishing.
The IMI Skills Competition Finals 2025 will be taking place at Cardiff and Vale College on the 24th-28th November. If you'd like to enquire about attending, please email us!
Light Vehicle Technology
Designed to reflect the work role of a light vehicle technician, assessing abilities such as using current technology and problem solving.
Heavy Vehicle Technology
Designed to reflect the role of a heavy vehicle technician, assessing abilities such as collecting and analysing information.
Automotive Body Repair
Designed to reflect the work role of an automotive technician and assess skills such as time management and problem solving.
Automotive Refinishing
Designed to reflect the work role of a vehicle refinishing technician, assessing skills such as mathematical ideas and techniques.
Case Studies & Blogs
Read about the competitors' journeys to the IMI Skills Competition finals and an overview of the Skills Competition Masterclasses.
Register your interest for 2026
Are you or one of your students interested in competing in the IMI Skills Competition 2026? Register your interest for next year.
Here are some of the benefits of getting involved in our IMI Skills Competition
Benefits for students
Test, learn, achieve and progress whilst improving your skills, including Tenacity, Problem-solving, Time management, Confidence, Technical skills, Communication, Resilience and Stress management.
Demonstrate your talent to the automotive sector in a fun, relaxed and inclusive environment.
"Being able to say I made it to the final of the IMI WorldSkills UK competition is something I’m incredibly proud of. It’s a great milestone for my development as both an apprentice and a future body repair professional.” - Chloe Chan, Poole Accident Repair – Skillnet, 2025 IMI Skills Competition Body Repair Finalist
Benefits for educators
Showcase your learners, your teaching programme and your Centre to the automotive sector whilst inspiring and setting high aspirations for your learners to strive for.
Help promote the dynamism of the automotive sector and the exciting career opportunities it presents to young people.
"Our advice to other colleges is simple: get involved early and wholeheartedly. Competitions like the IMI Skills Competition and WorldSkills UK offer transformative experiences for learners. They not only raise technical standards but also build confidence, resilience, and pride in students’ achievements." Jonathan Hudson, Trafford and Stockport College Group.
Benefits for employers
Promote your business as one that employs top talent within the automotive sector whilst gaining additional free training for your employees throughout the competition.
"To do this, it's about giving them confidence and building their confidence because they're not always going to have someone beside them." - James Avison, Sparshatt Academy Trainer
Benefits for sponsors
Align your business with supporting the sector's future by ensuring the next generation of talent receive the world-class training this competition provides.
"The competitors go to specialist training centres and have one-on-one training with industry experts. It benefited me massively." - Daryl Head, Group Talent Facilitator at Redde Northgate, Team UK 2017 Silver medallist at World Skills in Automotive Refinishing and IMI Skills Competitions Judge
Want to know more?
Who does the IMI Skills Competition benefit?
The IMI Skills Competition supports everyone as we search for the top new talent in the UK, from learners to educators and employers. To make it even easier to spread the word, we’ve created posters and infographics. Inspire students to take part by downloading and sharing these materials.
The IMI Skills Competition journey to the WorldSkills final
Discover everything you need to know about the competition, from competition preparation to the WorldSkills UK final. Support the IMI by downloading our poster and sharing with your network. Let's all do our bit to help new talent power automotive.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is WorldSkills?
Those who are age eligible and have achieved the benchmark score will be invited to opt into Squad UK. Held biannually, WorldSkills is the global hub for skills excellence and development who use the knowledge gained from participation and engagement to drive the greatest skills education from across the world into UK practice.
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What are the key dates and locations for the competition?
• Nominations and online quiz: 3rd - 28th March
• National Qualifiers for Refinishing and Body Repair at Eyebox, Coventry: 14th - 16th May
• National Qualifiers for Heavy Vehicle at Delphi, Leamington Spa: 19th - 21st May
• National Qualifiers for Light Vehicle at Delphi, Leamington Spa: 19th - 23rd May
• Finalists announced: 10th July
• Employer visits (case studies): September
• Masterclasses x4: TBC September /October
• Final at Cardiff and Vale College: 25th - 28th November -
What are the entry requirements?
Studying a Level 3 OR Completed an Apprenticeship within the last 12 months.
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What financial support can I get?
All accommodation and food costs are covered for the national qualifiers and finals. WorldSkills UK have a competitors support fund available to widen participation. The Fund helps cover essential costs for those who need it, including but not restricted to travel, equipment and clothing, care responsibilities and staff cover costs for small and medium-sized employers.
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What adjustments can you make to include me in the competition?
We are committed to ensuring the IMI Skills Competitions are inclusive and we offer a range of adaptations to meet everyone's individual needs, and are open to discussing with competitors or their points of contrast to bringing in new and bespoke measures for individuals.
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How do I get into Team UK?
IMI Skills competition finalists who score over the benchmark sore of 65% set by WorldSkills UK in the UK National Finals and who will be 22 or under in the year of international competition are eligible to be included in WorldSkills Squad UK, for team UK selection. WorldSkills happens alternate years: Euro Skills 2025 in Denmark / WorldSkills 2026 in China / Euro Skills 2027 in Germany / WorldSkills 2028 in Japan.
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How much time off work will I need to take part in the competition?
Total of 6.7 days = (Feb/March) 45 mins nomination & online test, (May/June) one day National Qualifier with an overnight stay, (Sept/Oct) 1-hour virtual employer visit, (Oct) 1-day Masterclass with an overnight stay, (Nov) 4.5 days for Final with overnight stays.
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What will I get from the competition?
- Testing your current skills against the rest of the sector
- Learning with specialists training days in the latest technology and equipment
- Opportunity to add IMI Skills Competitions onto your CV to showcase your talent
- Networking opportunities with other learners, employers and training providers
- Improving your workplace soft skills including tenacity, problem-solving, time management, confidence, technical skills, communication, resilience and stress management.
- Potentially a Gold medal and the chance to say you are the best new talent in the UK.
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When does the competition start each year?
Each competition year starts in Feb/March and you will need to be nominated by a tutor or employer within a 4-week window. You will then need to complete an online quiz within a stated time. The practical stages are in May and June and the final is in November.
Headline Sponsors
Thank you to Milwaukee Tool, Headline Sponsors of the IMI Skills Competition 2025.
Find out more about Milwaukee Tools
Light Vehicle Sponsor
Thank you to Delphi, Bronze Sponsors of the Light Vehicle Technology Skills Competition 2025.
Supporters
We would like to thank all of our supporters of the IMI Skills Competition 2025.