Honda apprentices steal the show at UK Skills

Honda apprentices dominated at the UK Skills final on 18 June, with two members from the Honda-trained team taking first and second place. UK Skills is a national competition for young technicians that takes place bi-annually and involves a range of industries from automotive to hairdressing.

In total, four of the seven national finalists were Honda apprentices, and at the regional finals in March 2009, Honda had seven apprentices competing – an outstanding achievement given the stiff competition they faced from the rest of the UK as well as other industries.

John Coulridge from Inchape Honda in Romford was named the overall winner of UK Skills 2009, followed by Andrew Davidson from Henry’s Honda in Glasgow who took joint-second place.

Also competing in the national final was Jonathan Curzon from Lancaster Honda and Jonathan Searancke from Fish Brothers Honda in Swindon, who won the regional final.

Honda’s finalists will now continue to train for the chance to represent the UK and compete against the best young technicians across the world, at World Skills 2011, which will be held in London.

“My thanks and congratulations go to the apprentices, their dealerships and everyone within the Honda Institute training team for the passionate support they have provided to achieve this fantastic result,” said Neil Fletcher, Head of the Honda Institute. “Their achievements reflect Honda’s whole-hearted commitment to encouraging young people to develop goals and aspirations and in turn, they are developing their own commercial value.”

Honda (UK) is pleased to support World Skills 2011 which will provide yet another platform for Honda’s apprentices to showcase their talents.

UK Skills 2009 was open to every young technician born on or after 1st January 1989. Hundreds of entrants completed an online test, of which 30 young technicians from around the UK were asked to compete in regional finals. Seven young apprentices were selected from the regional rounds to go through to the national final, held at the Thatcham centre last week. Apprentices were tested on seven tasks comprising of brakes, inspections, non-starters, engines, diesel, charging faults and electrical faults.