Skills Minister Jacqui Smith helped celebrate the best apprentices in the country as the winners of WorldSkills UK were revealed last week after three days of intense competition.
Young people from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland competed in Greater Manchester in over 40 different skills to be named the ‘best in the UK’ and earn a place on Team GB.
In Automotive Body Repair, Jordan Lingham, Sinclair Group, won Gold, with Silver going to Aaran Cooper, Steer Automotive Group, and Owen Thomas, BP Rolls Newport, taking Bronze. Joe Wilton of SDM Paintworks was highly commended.
Meanwhile, Gold winner in Automotive Refinishing was Victoria Steele, also of Sinclair Bodyshop, with Ben Robertson, G&H Body Repair, taking Silver. Bronze went to Teagan Whiteman, Fix Auto Newport, while Ben Williams, TJ Trade Body Repairs, was Highly Commended.
Underscoring what these achievements mean to the apprentices and their employers, Ian Pugh, Managing Director for Fix Auto UK, said, “Teagan is a credit to all within the group. This is an ambitious and clearly hugely talented young lady who literally walked straight out of school and into our Newport centre two years ago and simply asked for a job.
“Since that day she has excelled. Credit must be given to John Bowler, who manages the site, and our head painter Alex Braddon who has mentored Teagan from day one. To have an apprentice from the network on the precipice of competing on the WorldSkills international stage is yet another incredible chapter for us.”
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith added, “Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s magnificent competition. Competitions like WorldSkills UK are so important in nurturing talent, providing a vital platform for young people to develop the skills they need to seize opportunities and achieve growth.”
