IMI Awards News

Celebrating Success With IMI Awards Outstanding Achievers

19 June 2009

IMI Awards celebrated the achievements of individuals and colleges at their annual outstanding achievers event which was held at Fanshaws in Hertfordshire on Wednesday 17^th June 2009.

This prestigious event, which is held in the presence of HRH Prince Michael of Kent and sponsored by Lloyds TSB Autolease, celebrates the achievements of students and staff from IMI Awards approved centres. Three IMI Awards approved centres, selected from its network of 470, were in the running for the Approved Centre of the Year Award and 14 students were invited as finalists to the event for the individual categories.

Finalists were congratulated by HRH Prince Michael of Kent who said in his opening address, “All of you here today should be extremely proud of your achievements and success so far as you have been chosen from over 60,000 IMI Awards candidates. Your skills, competence and ambition are a credit to this industry and reflective of the passion behind IMI Awards as an industry leader.”

The first award of the day was for the IMI Awards Approved Centre of the Year which went to Somerset based Bridgwater College for their performance and proactive approach to industry requirements.

In the same category a special commendation award also went to Motov8, a registered charity working in Worcester. The award was given due to the positive impact the centre has on it’s learners who are primarily children and young adults with special training needs.

In the most hotly contested of the individual awards, Philip Courtney from South Devon College was presented with the Outstanding Technical Student (Light Vehicle) award for the extremely high standard of his work, skills and diagnostic knowledge.

Thomas Davison, from North Humberside Motor Trades (GTA), was presented with the Outstanding Technical Student (Heavy Vehicle) award as he impressed the judges with the dedication to his studies and enrolling on additional welding course, at his own expense, to further compliment his skills as a technician.

In the next four categories of Outstanding Technical Student, finalists at the event were all announced as winners as the judges felt other nominations put forward in their categories did not meet the high standards set for these awards. The winners demonstrated enormous dedication, often in the face of adversity, amazing teamwork and excellent performance in their chosen qualification route. The winners were:

Irene Malcolm from the Piaggio Group in the Motorcycle category, who was unable to attend the event, her assessor collected the award on her behalf. Claire Conway from Exeter College for the Body Repair category, Christian Saunders from Skillnet Automotive Academy in the Paint category and Michael Wall from Motov8 in the Fast Fit category.

The category of Outstanding Student in a non-technical discipline was awarded to Dean Richardson from the Ford Masters Apprenticeship Programme, who demonstrated fierce determination to succeed after completing 60% of the three year programme in just eight months after struggling against circumstances beyond his control which meant he fell behind in his studies.

Outstanding Management Student was awarded to Tracey Cooper from Colin Appleyard Ltd who gained her qualification through IMI Awards Quality Assured Awards which were delivered by the Blue Water Partnership. Tracey was recognised by the judges for her clear measurable objective setting approach after completing her training, which resulted in significant cost reductions and improved customer service at Colin Appleyard Ltd.

The final category of Young Student of the year was won by 16 year old Adam Rudrum who impressed the judges with not only his exceptional academic performance but also his instructional abilities when helping other classmates.

Winners received a glass trophy, framed certificate a cheque for £200 from HRH Prince Michael of Kent.

Hosting the awards, Alan Mackrill, executive director of IMI Awards, said: “Again this year, we received a high number of nominations, which is indicative of the value they have within the automotive training arena. We applaud winners and finalists as they are a credit to the retail automotive industry.”

David Kershaw, Operations Director, Lloyds TSB Autolease, said: “Lloyds TSB Autolease are once again delighted to sponsor the IMI Awards Outstanding Achievers. As one of the leading fleet funding and management specialists, we recognise that the way to provide excellent customer service is to develop the skills of individuals who are the future of our industry, The Operations team at Lloyds TSB Autolease and myself are proud and privileged to be a part of promoting an event that celebrates and promotes the achievements of these young people.”

ENDS

For further information please contact: Jane Allan, Communications Manager
IMI Awards janea@imiawards.org.uk Tel: 01992 519 038

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Group Photo

A full list of winners and finalists of the IMI Awards Outstanding Achievers 2009 are:

IMI Awards Approved Centre of the Year
Winner - Bridgwater College
Finalist - Coleg Glan Hafren
Finalist - Ford College Daventry
Special Commendation Award - Motov8

Outstanding Technical Student
Light Vehicle Winner: Philip Courtney - South Devon College
Light Vehicle Finalist: Dan Cudmore- GM Academy
Heavy Vehicle Winner: Thomas Davison - North Humberside Motor Trades (GTA)
Heavy Vehicle Finalist: James Dyke- Bridgwater
Motorcycle Winner: Irene Malcolm - Piaggio Group UK (no photo - did not attend)
Body Repair Winner: Claire Conway - Exeter College
Paint Winner: Christian Saunders- Skillnet Automotive Academy
Fast Fit Winner: Michael Wall - Motov8

Outstanding Non-Technical Student
Winner: Dean Richardson – Ford Masters Apprenticeship Programme/Jennings Ford Washington
Finalist: Daniel Barton - ReMIT

Outstanding Management Student
Winner: Tracey Cooper - Colin Appleyard /Bluewater
Finalist: Judith Duffy - Colin Appleyard /Bluewater

Young Student of the Year
Winner: Adam Rudrum - Lancaster Training Services
Finalist: Haydn Yeates -Top Valley