Stewart Geared Up for Skill Auto Challenge

A Walsall College Automotive student is currently getting ‘geared up’ to test his skills against his peers in the national SkillsAuto competition.

Level 3 student, Stewart Turner made it through the qualifying round and will now compete in the regional heats of the contest, to be held at South Nottingham College on 28th April.

This day long event will see Stewart competing against five other candidates in a series of theoretical and practical events. The highest scoring candidate will then progress to the national final in June.

This is the second consecutive year Walsall College students have been selected to represent at regional heats of the competition, with one of last year’s Walsall College students winning the highest scoring full time student award.

Part of WorldSkills, the SkillAuto Competitions provide an opportunity for automotive technicians to demonstrate the technical skills required to be a successful modern day technician.

Competitors are required to work on a selection of cars carrying out various tasks, designed to test the ability of the ever increasing demands of a motor vehicle technician.

WorldSkills UK are quality assured skills competitions. Run annually, the competitions aim to encourage people across the UK to excel in their vocational skill. WorldSkills UK competitions run both regionally and nationally and aim to help lift standards of training and performance, promoting world class skills and international competitiveness.

Dominic Whelan, Curriculum Manager of Automotive for Walsall College said: “I am very proud of Stewart for his achievements; I am sure Walsall College will be well represented at the event. Stewart is now in his third year with the department and it is obvious he has evolved and developed his skill-set sufficiently for him to be selected for a national contest at this level. He is capable, professional and methodical in his approach to work, and I am very excited for him to show these attributes off to other colleges and training providers”.