Mitchell Gannifclift's Journey to the IMI Skills Competition Finals

Mitchell Ganniclift works at Johnson Skoda in Stourbridge and has been building his skills in the automotive industry for almost four years. After discovering vehicle mechanics through an apprenticeship, Mitchell has continued to develop his technical knowledge and experience.

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

After finishing college, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I was looking through government websites for apprenticeships and I found one in mechanics. It seemed like a good skill to have because it is something that can be useful throughout your life like fixing your own car. That was the main reason I decided to do it. I joined the apprenticeship and spent three years training in Milton Keynes with VW. During that time, I picked up a lot of skills and made some great friends.

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

The competition was all a bit of a surprise really. I received an email about it and thought I would give it a try. I completed the test but did not actually get through at first. Fortunately, someone dropped out and I was given their place. I was disappointed when I initially missed out, so it was great to get another opportunity. I went on to finish second in the national qualifiers, and now I am getting closer to the finals and benefiting from even more training.

What new skills or knowledge have you gained through participating in the competition?

At the moment, we are working with ADAS, which I hadn't really used before because we do not have the equipment at our site. So, it's all completely new to me. I have also had the opportunity to watch the panel technicians at work, so I have been able to gain knowledge from different areas of the industry.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in the automotive industry?

My advice would be simple: just go for it. There is a lot of help available, and everyone is pretty friendly within the automotive community. It is definitely worth it in the end.

Find out more about the IMI Skills Competition.