Motor Vehicle Students Make National Final of Industry Competition

Three talented Motor Vehicle apprentices from Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhyl campus have successfully made it through to a national automotive skills competition after impressing the judges in the regional qualifier.

Marcus Robbins, 17, from Rhyl, Harvey Mangnall, 18, from Towyn and Rhys Jones, 19, from Trefnant have all qualified for the Skills Competition Wales 2020/2021 national finals, and are now one step away from winning gold and being crowned the best new talent in the industry! They are all full-time students studying on the IMI Level 2 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Principles course.

All the regional competitors had to complete three tasks in the ‘Light Vehicle Automotive Technology’ category to test their automotive skills: from diagnosing a starting fault, through carrying out a vehicle inspection, to changing a timing chain on an engine. Each task had to be completed within the 45 minute timescale. In the final, the trio will have to complete a diagnostic test on an online engine simulator.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and working to the latest Government guidelines and safety advice, Skills Competition Wales had to adapt the way in which its automotive competitions are being delivered this year. As a result, the competition national qualifiers - which are a search for automotive excellence within Wales - were held remotely.

The students’ tutor, Eifion Griffiths, said: “Considering everything that has happened this year with the lockdown, it is a testament to their dedication and talent that all three will now get the chance to compete against their peers in the national final. They have done brilliantly to get this far in the competition, and I'm sure they will do themselves and the staff at the Motor Vehicle department here in Rhyl proud when the take part in the final."

For more information on Coleg Llandrillo’s Motor Vehicle courses, please visit: www.gllm.ac.uk/motor or contact the college on 01745 354 797.

Marcus Robbins, 17, from Rhyl, Harvey Mangnall, 18, from Towyn and Rhys Jones, 19, from Trefnant have all qualified for the Skills Competition Wales 2020/2021 national finals, and are now one step away from winning gold and being crowned the best new talent in the industry! They are all full-time students studying on the IMI Level 2 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Principles course.

All the regional competitors had to complete three tasks in the ‘Light Vehicle Automotive Technology’ category to test their automotive skills: from diagnosing a starting fault, through carrying out a vehicle inspection, to changing a timing chain on an engine. Each task had to be completed within the 45 minute timescale. In the final, the trio will have to complete a diagnostic test on an online engine simulator.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and working to the latest Government guidelines and safety advice, Skills Competition Wales had to adapt the way in which its automotive competitions are being delivered this year. As a result, the competition national qualifiers - which are a search for automotive excellence within Wales - were held remotely.

The students’ tutor, Eifion Griffiths, said: “Considering everything that has happened this year with the lockdown, it is a testament to their dedication and talent that all three will now get the chance to compete against their peers in the national final. They have done brilliantly to get this far in the competition, and I'm sure they will do themselves and the staff at the Motor Vehicle department here in Rhyl proud when the take part in the final."

For more information on Coleg Llandrillo’s Motor Vehicle courses, please visit: www.gllm.ac.uk/motor or contact the college on 01745 354 797.

Marcus Robbins, 17, from Rhyl, Harvey Mangnall, 18, from Towyn and Rhys Jones, 19, from Trefnant have all qualified for the Skills Competition Wales 2020/2021 national finals, and are now one step away from winning gold and being crowned the best new talent in the industry! They are all full-time students studying on the IMI Level 2 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Principles course.

All the regional competitors had to complete three tasks in the ‘Light Vehicle Automotive Technology’ category to test their automotive skills: from diagnosing a starting fault, through carrying out a vehicle inspection, to changing a timing chain on an engine. Each task had to be completed within the 45 minute timescale. In the final, the trio will have to complete a diagnostic test on an online engine simulator.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and working to the latest Government guidelines and safety advice, Skills Competition Wales had to adapt the way in which its automotive competitions are being delivered this year. As a result, the competition national qualifiers - which are a search for automotive excellence within Wales - were held remotely.

The students’ tutor, Eifion Griffiths, said: “Considering everything that has happened this year with the lockdown, it is a testament to their dedication and talent that all three will now get the chance to compete against their peers in the national final. They have done brilliantly to get this far in the competition, and I'm sure they will do themselves and the staff at the Motor Vehicle department here in Rhyl proud when the take part in the final."

For more information on Coleg Llandrillo’s Motor Vehicle courses, please visit: www.gllm.ac.uk/motor or contact the college on 01745 354 797.