Lexus apprentice of the year takes up European skills challenge

Lexus Apprentice of the Year Matthew Lawrence is one of 10 European students from the Toyota Technical Education Programme (TTEP) who will be taking part in EuroSkills 2008. Matthew, 22, will be joining nine Toyota colleagues from across the Continent in the contest, which is Europe’s largest open skills competition.

“I am expecting a great challenge and am looking forward to pushing my skills to the limit against the best that Europe has to offer,” said Matthew, who is a member of the workshop team at Lexus Manchester.

Joining Team UK in the Light Vehicles Technician section of the competition, he will take part in six challenges across three days, including practical maintenance tasks and engine fault diagnosis. Top professionals will also be on hand to provide advice and tips.

Aimed to develop the highest vocational skills, the event takes place from September 18 to 20, supported by Toyota as an official partner. As well as competitions, it also provides a rich source of information, guidance and hands-on opportunities for young people across a wide range of trades.

TTEP is the first global training programme of its kind to be provided by a vehicle manufacturer. Launched in 1990, it is designed to give aspiring automotive technicians a high quality technical education and improve their job skills. Toyota invested almost €4 million (approximately £3.2 million) in the programme in Europe in 2007/8 and produced more than 12,000 course graduates from 226 training centres in 23 countries.

Matthew, from Flixton in Greater Manchester, holds a Level 3 NVQ in light vehicle motor repair. “I would encourage all young people to enter skills competitions,” he said, “They are a great way to meet like minded people and to challenge yourself and test your own knowledge and skills against others.”