John Couldridge, a technician at Inchcape Honda in Romford, Essex has been crowned the UK’s top young automotive technician in a national skills competition. 

Couldridge competed against technicians in the Skillauto competition in the light vehicle repair and maintenance category, which was held at Thatcham, the motor insurance repair research centre.

Competitors had to demonstrate their diagnostic and repair skills on a variety of vehicles and systems.

Finishing in joint second place was Matthew McCormack who works at the Maiden Newton Service Station in Dorset and Andrew Davidson from Henry’s Honda in Glasgow.

Managed and run by the IMI, the aim of Skillauto is to identify and promote the talent of young people working in the automotive industry, who might then have the opportunity to go on and compete with the best from across the world at the WorldSkills.