Top Technician 2015 launched

The annual Top Technician competition, which promotes and rewards the best repairers and workshops in the UK, invites fault-finders with at least three years’ practical experience to try out the initial online quiz.

The multiple choice quiz is open until 2 March and covers theory as well as repair scenarios. It has been devised by chief judge Ian Gillgrass of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) alongside his expert team of judges which this year includes previous winner Steve Smith and James Dillon.

Technicians who complete the brief entry form at www.toptechnician.co.uk will be entered into a free prize draw to win £250. In addition, a free year’s subscription to UKAutoTalk is offered to all those who are not currently subscribed to the UK’s largest online network of automotive techs. Discounted tickets to Top Technician Live are offered to all entrants – a full day of training sessions providing repair advice and demonstrations of vehicle systems, which will take place at a vehicle manufacturer training facility on May 22nd.

Top Technician is open to all experienced technicians working within dealerships, independent garages and fast-fit centres. The prestigious title, priceless publicity and a substantial prize fund worth several thousand pounds await the winner including £2,500 in tax-free cash from organisers.

Top Technician manager Nicola St Clair says: “The online quiz is a great way to highlight any areas you may need to brush up on – make sure you jot down your answers so you can see how well you did when the correct answers are sent out in March. I have met many great technicians over the past decade who knew of the competition but left it a few years to get involved for fear of putting themselves under the spotlight. The practical heats are challenging but everyone involved finds it strangely enjoyable! We make it as informal as we can to help people relax so they can show their true abilities.”

The top-scoring 20 technicians from the initial quiz will be picked after March 2nd 2015 and invited to participate in an advanced online test. The highest-scoring 10 will then move on to the practical semi-final stage, diagnosing issues on vehicles overseen by our judges, with the top five going through to the final. The winner will be announced at Top Technician Live in May 2015.

Top Technician 2015 is supported by a group of leading industry companies committed to providing workshops with the support and training needed to keep abreast of today’s increasingly complex vehicle technology. Thank you to ACtronics, Blue Print, Comma, febi bilstein, the IMI, Meyle, Pico and Snap-on for their support.