IMI Skills Competition
Searching for the top new talent in the sector
IMI Skills Competitions 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 2024
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, automotive technology, automotive body repair, automotive refinishing and heavy vehicle technology.
The finals this year will be held between Monday 18th November to Friday 22nd November in Greater Manchester.
Body Repair
Designed to reflect the work role of an automotive technician and assess skills such as time management and problem solving.
Refinishing
Designed to reflect the work role of a vehicle refinishing technician. assessing skills such as mathematical ideas and techniques.
Heavy Vehicle Technology
Designed to reflect the role of a heavy vehicle technician, assessing abilities such as collecting and analysing information.
Light Vehicle Technology
Designed to reflect the work role of a light vehicle technician, assessing abilities such as using current technology and problem solving.
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.
"The competition has been amazing and I’m looking forward to getting my name out there.” - Victoria Steele, NPTC Pontardawe – Sinclair, 2023 IMI Skills Competition Refinishing Silver Medallist
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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.
"If you are an apprentice who has just finished and are struggling to find your feet in this industry; this is a confidence booster. This will put you high in the heavens, thinking I know I can do these things and go into any other body shop and be just as good as anyone else." - Alec Macleod, 2023 IMI Skills Competitions Body Repair Bronze Medallist
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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
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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
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IMI Skills Competition tools and resources
Use our helpful and informative pre-competition tests and activities in your chosen area, where you'll learn more about the types of tasks you will be asked to complete at all levels.
Hear from a previous IMI Skills Competition gold medalist
Hear from Mike Massey, IMI Skills Competition Refinishing Lead Judge and previous Gold Medallist winner, on what the competition has meant for him.
Sponsor of Body Repair 2024
Supporters of IMI Skills Competitions
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.