IMI Skills Competition

Searching for the top new talent in the sector

The IMI Skills Competition celebrates 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 Competition

The IMI Skills Competition 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 three streams of competition, light vehicle technology, automotive body repair, and automotive refinishing.

Nominations open on Monday 2^nd March 2026. Register your interest today.

Resources, tools and a look at last year's competition...

Here are some of the benefits of getting involved in our IMI Skills Competition

Students Go further in your career
Educators Showcase your learners
Employers Promote your top talent
Sponsors Support our 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.

"Our engagement with WorldSkills dates back to 2014, and our maintenance apprentices have had continued successes through the years, most recently winning silver in Mechatronics in November 2025 in Cardiff. We have supported the challenges materially at a number of the competitions over the years with the provision of parts, allowing the teams to experience real life scenarios, something that is key when honing skills for use in daily industrial situations. We feel that WorldSkills is in important and relevant part to our apprentices’ journey into becoming full time skilled members here at Toyota.” Jo Hems, Section Manager, Technical Skills & Development, Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is WorldSkills?

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. Those who are age eligible and have achieved the benchmark score will be invited to opt into Squad UK.
What are the key dates and locations for the competition?

•    Nominations and online quiz: 2nd - 27th March
•    National Qualifiers for Refinishing and Body Repair at Eyebox, Coventry: 20th - 22nd May
•    National Qualifiers for Light Vehicle at Delphi, Leamington Spa: 27th - 29th May
•    Finalists announced: 1st - 31st July
•    Employer visits (case studies): September
•    Masterclasses x4: October
•    Final at Cardiff and Vale College: 16th - 20th November
What are the entry requirements?

Studying a Level 3 OR Completed an Apprenticeship within the last 12 months.
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.
Find out more about funding.
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.
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.
How much time off work will I need to take part in the competition?

Total of 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.
*This is a guide and will be dependent on individual needs and requirements, such as commute time.
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.
When does the competition start each year?

Each competition year starts inMarch 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.