Remit apprentices take home body of awards!

Two Remit apprentices have taken top spot at this year’s Bodyshop Live Awards, which took place on Friday (20th September) at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

The winning apprentices; James Barnard and Kyle Bailey, were both nominated for the awards earlier this year, by their employer and Remit Apprentice Development Coach.

James Barnard (21), works at Apollo Group, Cheltenham. He is in the final stages of a Mechanical, Electrical and Trim Technician Level 3 apprenticeship. Kyle Bailey (20)  meanwhile is from Derby and is completing a  Vehicle Damage Paint Repair Technician apprenticeship while working at GP Motors.

Kyle Bailey of GP Motors, Derby, taking part in the Bodyshop Live competition

To reach this prestigious final, each candidate had to compete in a range of practical tests of their knowledge and skill against fellow apprentices from across the country, under timed conditions, while being judged by an independent panel of sector experts.

A number of Remit apprentices made it through the practical assessment days to be finalists at the awards. These include:

• James Barnard, Apollo Cheltenham- Mechanical, Electrical Trim apprentice Technician
• Lewis Judd, Rugby Bodyshoppe – Mechanical, Electrical Trim apprentice Technician
• Thomas Knowles, BCA Fleet – Mechanical, Electrical Trim apprentice Technician
• Kyle Bailey, GP Motors – Vehicle Damage Paint Repair apprentice Technician
• Bradley Swann, Supreme Accident Repair – Vehicle Damage Paint Repair apprentice Technician.

The Bodyshop Live Awards is Britain’s only fully independent practical awards for crash repair workers. It is held specifically for vehicle refinishing technicians and body repair specialists at all levels from an apprentice up to more experienced operators. Apprentices are assessed in three categories, including Apprentice Mechanical, Electrical and Trim (MET), Technician, Apprentice Paint Technician and Apprentice Panel Technician.

This year. the practical assessments took place at Remit’s dedicated Automotive Academy in Derby. These assessments are used to help the judging panel identify who has the best knowledge and skills to take home the title in their category.

James Barnard, is due to achieve his level 3 apprenticeship later this month, he said of the practical tasks:

“It’s a lot like the stuff I do at work and the (Remit) academy, so I tried to be quite relaxed and comfortable. I just wanted to give it a shot and see how well I could do.”

Remit’s Chief Executive Officer, Sue Pittock, said:

“We’re so proud of our winning apprentices. To get a nomination for their dedication and hard work in their apprenticeship, is amazing in itself. To then go on and succeed in these tough assessment days, it really shows just how skillful they are.

“We have been delighted to be involved with the prestigious Bodyshop Live Awards this year. We’re incredibly proud of our heritage working in the automotive sector and the facilities we now offer our apprentices, at our fantastic Automotive Academy in Derby.

“Hundreds of apprentices visit us every year to be trained to the highest standards. When we joined forces with the Bodyshop Live Awards, the Remit Academy seemed the perfect place to stage the practical assessments.

“It was amazing to see the high standard of applicants entering the awards. We were also delighted to see some of our Remit apprentices taking part in the competition. 

“It was an honour to present some of the winners with their awards on Friday. All the winners and finalists that were recognised at the awards should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.”