The hunt for the UK’s best young automotive apprentices has commenced, with the opening of the Institute of the Motor Industry’s (IMI’s) 2014 SkillAuto competition.

Young people will compete in the fields of Autobody, Autorefinishing and Autotech for a place at the SkillAuto final, which takes place at the Skills Show in November.

This year’s launch of SkillAuto is accompanied by the announcement that Jaguar Land Rover will continue to host the Autotech heats at their state-of-the-art Academy in Warwick, and that 3M will once again host the Autorefinishing heats at their training centre in Atherstone. 

To reach the heats, automotive apprentices will take part in online tests to determine who will go forward to the live heats, which take place between May and June.

The profile of the SkillAuto competition has also been raised by recent news that the IMI was one of just three Competition Organising Partners to be nominated by WorldSkills UK for their Partner of the Year award in recognition of their efforts in delivering the 2013 competitions.

Steve Nash, the IMI’s chief executive, said: “With National Apprenticeship Week fast approaching, we are excited to announce the start of the SkillAuto 2014 competition, which will showcase the very best automotive apprentices and help to highlight the great careers on offer in the automotive sector. 

"The standard of last year’s competitors was truly outstanding and the great news that the IMI was nominated as WorldSkills UK Partner of the Year will help to ensure this year’s competition will be bigger and better than ever.”

Entry into SkillAuto is open until 21st March.  To find out more about SkillAuto and how to get involved as well as information about career opportunities in the motor industry, please visit www.autocity.org.uk/skillauto.