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Skill Auto Finals 2011
Northern Ireland Apprentices excel at national competitions
This year Northern Ireland Apprentices in Body Repair and Vehicle Refinish have excelled in the 2011 Skill Auto Finals in Dupont Stevenage and GTG Training Glasgow. Three of the contestants received gold medal status and now have the chance to be selected for World Skills 2013; this is proof that Northern Ireland has the ability to produce high quality apprentices to national standards in practical skills ability. The journey was difficult and all 7 apprentices who reached the grade at regional heats need to be highly commended they were: Sean Burns (Charles Hurst ARC), Leigh Fitzpatrick (Newry Crash Repair), Glen Gilmore (Wrights ARC Dromore), William Howell (Howell ARC Bangor), David Skillen (Wrights ARC Carryduff), Matthew Quinn (Charles Hurst ARC) and Patrick Quinn (Quinn’s Limousines & Hearses) all training with Riverpark Training and Development Ltd Mallusk.
The journey was difficult they competed at Riverpark Training for the Paint section and at Northern West Regional College for the Panel section in April this year. The standard was so high at these heats that 4 qualified for the National Heat in Body Repair and 3 qualified for the National Heat in Paint, being that there were only 6 in total at the national finals this represented a very high representation from N.I.
The marking criteria for UK Skill Auto National competitions are very detailed and all judges are overseen by the lead judge Bill Jones. Medals are awarded on the points accrued per individual contestant for example: firstly a contestant has to achieve marks above the criteria set out by UK Skills per competition to be awarded a medal, and then they have to achieve the relevant marks to achieve gold, silver or bronze.
The paint competition 13th & 14th July 2011.
The vehicle refinish competition was held at DuPont in Stevenage this year; this is the first time in 10 years that it has been held outside Thatcham. This was due to the I.M.I. now taking responsibility for the running and judging of the Skill Auto competitions in motor vehicle at national level. Sean Burns and Patrick Quinn were the contestants who attended. Glen Gilmore who scored the highest mark at the regional heat could not attend due to holiday commitments. Sean and Patrick undertook tasks consisting of wet on wet techniques, masking, colour matching, repairing minor damage and application of base and lacquer. Sean and Patrick were taken back by the clinical surroundings they encountered and the level of fellow contestants they were up against, but they were soon into the tasks they were allocated and demonstrated that they could work and compete at this level.
Patrick Quinn Sean Burns
After 2 days of high concentration and craftsmanship the competition was complete with only the awards to be announced. This was nail biting as the contestants all were very close with very few mistakes by all. Eventually Sean Burns (Charles Hurst ARC) was announced UK Champion and Gold Medal winner. !!!!!!!!!!!!!also received a gold medal as he had achieved similar marks to achieve gold medal status. Only 2 marks separated both of these contestants.
Sean Burns being presented with a Devilbliss SRI spraygun by Andrew Moring (Morelli Group)
Sean Burns (Gold Medalist) Bill Jones (Lead Judge) !!!!!!!!!!! (Gold Medalist)
The Panel Competition 20th & 21st July 2011
This year GTG Training in Glasgow were the host centre for the UK Skill Auto Panel competition, similar to the paint competition this was the first time in 10 years it has been held outside Thatcham. Leigh Fitzpatrick (Newry Crash Repair), William Howell (Howell ARC) and Matthew Quinn (Charles Hurst ARC) were the contestants who attended, David Skillen (Wrights ARC Carryduff) could not attend due to holiday commitments. They had to complete tasks on welding, assembly, remove and fit components, metal finishing, filler repair and chassis rectification.
Bill Jones (lead judge) checking the marks as Leigh Fitzpatrick (Newry Crash Repair) gets to grip with the assembly task.
Matthew Quinn (Charles Hurst ARC) completing the filler repair task in front of some of GTG Training students.
William Howell (Howell ARC) measuring angles in the assembly task
All the Body Repair Northern Ireland apprentices were under 19 years of age and were competing against apprentices who although were at a similar stage in their apprenticeship ranged from 22-25 years of age. The boys initially thought that they were up-staged by better trained and experienced apprentices but this became in-apparent as they got to grips with the initial tasks. Leigh had the most difficult task at the start the manufacturing of the assembly task which involved the construction of a forward chassis leg. Being the youngest and least experienced of the Northern Ireland group he was the first to feel the pressure of a task he had to reason and work out. About 30min into the task suddenly it was like a light came on and Leigh realized what he had to do, he completed with just 3 sec to spare. Matthew Quinn felt the pressure at the chassis rectification task, and after completing was unsure he had gave the correct pulling angles to the judge. William Howell also found the chassis rectification task challenging and at one point was about to pull the vehicle in the wrong direction. After 2 days of intense competition all the contestants were assembled at the !!!!!!!!!!! centre in GTG Training.!!!!!!!!!!! From IMI delivered the opening speech thanking GTG Training, Morelli Group, Judges, lectures, colleges and training providers, contestants and employers. Then the announcement, 1 Silver Medal to !!!!!!!” Coleg Glan Hafren, Gold Medal to !!!!!!!!! Coleg Glan Hafren, Gold Medal to Matthew Quinn Riverpark Training and UK Skill Auto Champion/Gold Medalist and highest ever mark achieved in this completion to William Howell Riverpark Training.
Contestants and Judges at GTG Training Glasgow.
Riverpark Training would like to extend is gratitude to Charles Hurst ARC, Howell ARC, Newry Crash Repair and Quinn’s Limousines and Hearses for releasing their apprentices to compete both at regional and national level in 2011. It is undoubtedly the support of the managers and owners of these companies who supplied the support that allowed these apprentices to excel. Let’s not forget these finalists were the top 6 in the UK in Body Repair and Vehicle Refinishing proving that the Crash Repair Industry in Northern Ireland has the potential to be the best in the UK and three of these young lads have the chance to go to World Skills proving that Northern Ireland can punch above its weight in this section of the motor industry.
Matthew Quinn Charles Hurst A.R.C.
Matthew Quinn has been working for Charles Hurst Accident Repair Centre since Sept 2007 and has been an inspiration to all body repair apprentices over the last 3 years at Riverpark Training. Matthew began his training with the former Carter and Carter and then transferred to Riverpark Training after this company collapsed in 2008. He has always showed initial talent and throughout the last 3 years of training and has accumulated quite an array of achievements. He has won the Northern Ireland Body Repair competition twice, been a finalist in the UK heats of Young Panel Technician 2 times, been selected for the Northern Ireland VQ Awards 2011, won IMI Awards Outstanding Student (Paint Section) 2011 and achieved gold medal status in the UK Skill Auto Finals 2011 in GTG Glasgow. This latest achievement means he has the possibility to progress to World Skills 2013 in Leipzig Germany. He will join 2 other contestants from Riverpark Training both of whom because of their recent achievements can also progress towards this ultimate achievement.
Institute of the Motor Industry Outstanding Students 2011
This year seen two apprentices from Riverpark Training being nominated for the prestigious Outstanding Student Awards held at the IMI headquarters at Franshaws England. They were Matthew Quinn (Charles Hurst Accident Repair Centre) for the Body Repair section and Rebecca Wilson (Bells Accident Repair Centre) for the paint section. Both students were treated to a welcoming reception and were introduced to His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent (Patron of the IMI).
Rebecca received the award of finalist and received a cheque and goodie bag from Euro-Carparts and Matthew was awarded out-right winner in his section and also received a cheque and goodie bag from Euro-Carparts. This is the second year in a row that Riverpark Training apprentices have won these prestigious awards, last year Daniel McDowell (Wrights ARC Mallusk) was out-right winner in the Paint Section.
Matthew Quinn also achieved a finalist position in the Northern Ireland VQ Awards held at Stormount Castle and received a certificate presented by Stephen Farry Minister for Employment and Learning. He was one of 10 finalists from all sections of vocational qualifications from all over Northern Ireland. This was held on the previous evening to the IMI Awards, so quite a busy time for him.
UK Skills Auto Final
Riverpark Training would like to thank the employers of the following Apprentices who were selected to take part in the UK Skills Auto Final which will be held in Nottingham in July.
Candidates from the Refinishing Heats
Glenn Gilmore: Wrights ARC Dromore
Sean Burns: Charles Hurst ARC
Patrick Quinn: Fearghas Quinn Limousine and Hearse
Candidates from the Car Body Repair Heats
Matthew Quinn: Charles Hurst ARC
David Skillen: Wrights ARC Carryduff
William Howell: Howell’s ARC
The top 3 candidates from each section where selected with only 10 marks separating the competitors.
UK Skills Auto
David Dick presenting Neil Gibson of Charles Hurst ARC and Rebecca Wilson of Bells Accident Repair being presented with spray guns for coming 1st and 2nd respectively in their heat.
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UK Skills Auto Vehicle Refinishing Competition at Riverpark Training
On the 16th March Riverpark Training hosted the 2011 Northern Ireland heat of the UK Skill Auto Car Painting competition. The competitors were Patrick Quinn (Quinn’s Limousines), Thomas Shields (Howell Accident Repair), Simon Johnston (Richard Graham Body Repair ) , Glen Gilmore (Wrights Accident Repair Dromore), Sean Burns (Charles Hurst Accident Repair Centre) and Boyd Shanks (Wrights Accident Repair Carryduff).
All these apprentices previously entered an on-line exam to test their industry knowledge skills and from this UK Skills selected the top 7% to compete in a series of practical tests. This year the standard of competitors was very high and the difference between 1st and 3rd was only 10 marks. Judges on the day were David Frizell from Riverpark Training, Jonathan Lloyd World Skills Bronze Medallist, Mark Mooney Karkraft NI and Gerald Close Southern Regional College, overseen by the UK Lead judge in Car Painting Bill Jones. The Mayor of Newtownabbey, Alderman Paula Bradley presented the certificates of achievers to all the successful candidates.
The winners were:
1st Glen Gilmore
2nd Sean Burns
3rd Patrick Quinn
Leigh Fitzpatrick (Newry Crash Repair) and Martin Hutchinson (I.M.I.)
UK Skills Body Repair Competition at North West Regional College
On the 14th March, 4 apprentices from Riverpark Training attended North West Regional College for the UK Skills Auto Body Repair competition. Riverpark Training was represented by Matthew Quinn (Charles Hurst Accident Repair Centre), William Howell (Howell Accident Repair Centre), David Skillen (Wrights Accident Repair Centre Carryduff) and Leigh Fitzpatrick (Newry Crash Repair Centre). They underwent 5 practical assessments designed to test them to the limit of their ability. Judges were supplied by Riverpark Training, North West Regional College, Southern Regional College, the Institute of the Motor Industry and Transport Training Services all of which was overseen by UK Skills. Competitors were also there representing Transport Training Services, Southern Regional College and North West Regional College.
The winners were:
1st Matthew Quinn
2nd David Skillen
3rd William Howell
Northern Ireland Young Painter of the Year 2011
Due to the high number of entrants to the UK Skills competition it was decided to run a further paint competition at Riverpark Training to allow the younger competitors gain experience of demonstrating their skills at this level. Taking part were Paul Crouthers (Agnew ARC), Neil Gibson(Charles Hurst ARC), Tyler Erwin (AE Body Repair) and Rebecca Wilson(Bells ARC).
Rebecca Wilson (Bells ARC) checking colour variants
Paul Crothers (Agnew ARC) and Tyler Erwin (AE Body Repair) prepping OEM panels for wet on wet process.
The winners were:
1st Neil Gibson
2nd Rebecca Wilson
3rd Tyler Erwin
ATA & VDA Up-Date
Riverpark Training has teamed up with The Independent Windscreen Academy to deliver training and assessment for Bodyshop Windscreen ATA. This is a must for all mobile windscreen fitters and bodyshop fitters who are removing and fitting glass for Bodyshops who are PAS 125 approved or seeking to gain this shortly. With 2 large bodyshops now PAS 125 approved and another 6 close to gaining this accreditation spaces for all technical levels of ATA is on a first come first served basis and especially on Windscreen as there is only one more training and assessment date scheduled in May for this year.
Les Mindon from Thatcham Training will be running another VDA training course in July for up to 12 delegates, this again is filling up fast and an early booking is advisable.
Les Mindon (Thatcham Training) and Colin Hagan (Riverpark Training)
Riverpark Training VDA and ATA Up-Date
Les Minton from Thatcham Automotive Training Academy has carried out a further 2 days VDA training course on the 31st January and the 1st of February. This will further strengthen the links with the industry leader in this area of training and will improve the ability of the bodyshops in Northern Ireland to achieve PAS125. Further VDA training dates are available by request and Riverpark Training would particularly like to extend this training to insurance field engineers and those who have not yet engaged in this requirement for PAS125. Riverpark Training is committed to providing value for money in this expensive area of training and will strive to keep the cost to the industry as low as possible but need good attendances to ensure they can keep this cost to a minimum.
