Talented young auto technicians from Northern Ireland performed well at this year’s UK SkillAuto competition held at the NEC Birmingham. 

Autobody, Autopaint and Autotech were there of the key automotive categories contested at the skills showcase which was attended by 100,000 young people. Eighteen competitors took part in the SkillAuto final, having already fought off over 1,200 entrants to reach this stage.  Organised by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), SkillAuto is a national competition which seeks to find the best young automotive technicians in a knockout competition.  The competitor’s skills were put to the test over two days, where their expertise in their chosen fields was judged by industry experts in front of a live audience. 

Gold medal winners included Matthew Quinn in Autobody, an apprentice at the Charles Hurst Accident Repair Centre in County Antrim, while Gary Greer an apprentice at John Lennon Accident Repair in Country Tyrone won Gold in the Autopaint contest.  Apprentices from Northern Ireland also took silver medals in the Autopaint and Autotech categories.

David Massie, the IMI’s Skills Competition Manager, said: “SkillAuto showcases the very best young talent within our industry and the standard at this year’s exciting final was extremely high.  All of the finalists demonstrated the highest levels of technical expertise under intense pressure and in my mind they all deserve to be winners.”