George Briggs' Journey to the IMI Skills Competition Finals

What started as a part-time job while studying carpentry quickly turned into a passion for refinishing, setting George on the path to becoming a qualified paint technician and an IMI Skills Competition finalist.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the automotive industry, and how did you get started?

I actually fell into it by accident. I was doing a carpentry course at college and needed a part-time job, so I started working for a company that converted vans into campervans. I was just sweeping up and helping out wherever I could, but they asked me to help prep some bumpers in the bodyshop. As soon as I started getting involved with that side of things, I was hooked and I knew it was something I wanted to do properly.

Can you walk us through your career journey so far?

That was nearly five years ago now, and since then I've worked towards becoming a paint technician. I'm currently a third-year apprentice with Steer Automotive Group, and I'm nearly qualified. 

How would you describe your experience in the IMI Skills Competition?

It's been brilliant, to be honest. I've really enjoyed it. Not only has it been good fun, but it's also helped me develop as a technician. The competition pushes you to work under pressure and really focus on your time management, which has been useful for both my End Point Assessment and my day-to-day role.

I also took part in the Steer Skills Competition before entering the IMI competition, which helped prepare me for what to expect. 

"Having that experience behind me definitely gave me a bit more confidence going into the qualifiers and finals."

George Briggs

What have you gained from taking part in competitions?

One of the biggest things I've gained is confidence in my own ability. Competitions make you step outside your comfort zone and test yourself against a high standard. They've also given me experience that I wouldn't necessarily get from my normal day-to-day work.

It's also great for my CV and portfolio. Being able to show the extra training, competitions and development work I've done alongside my apprenticeship helps demonstrate the effort I've put into improving my skills and progressing in my career.

Find out more about the IMI Skills Competition here.