Paint technician of the Year Finalist
Primed for the finals - Alfie secures finalist position in paint technician of the year
20th September, 2023
Alfie Owens, Paint Technician at TruckEast Wellingborouh has made it through to the finals in the 2023 Bodyshop Awards.
Hosted by Bodyshop Magazine, the awards acknowledge and celebrate industry achievements over the past year; recognising top performers in the accident repair sector.
The competition was high this year, with entrants from all over the Bodyshop industry including car, lcv and hgv sectors. Reaching the finals was by no mean feat, after successfully passing an online assessment, Alfie was invited to a rigorous practical assessment back in June.
The practical comprised of a variety of challenges, which although were based on everyday tasks found in the workplace, they took on a whole new light under a competitive environment. Tasks included indentifying and explaining the cause of eight different paint faults. And then explaining how to rectify the imperfections. Other challenges involved the preparation and repair of a plastic bumper, removing and polishing a run in the painted panel, and successfully completing a complicated paint finish on a pre-primed panel.
If the above didn't challenge the finalists enough, factor in the pressure of a timed environment and four judges overseeing their every move. In all cases the finalists were measured against speed and accuracy, whilst ensuring the correct use of PPE, safe working practices, and correct methodology and processes.
Paul Woodward, Remit's lead tutor for body and paint and head judge for the awards said, "The technicians in this year's competition have demonstrated such a high levels of professionalism and an even higher set of skills; it was really down to the wire with the winner sometimes coming down to who was the quickest at the task."
Harley Coulson, Managing Director at TruckEast comments, "From the start of his career with TruckEast, Alfie has shown passion and drive for his work and takes great pride in his finished results. Reaching the finals in this category is a testament to his skills and determination. Not forgetting he was the youngest in his category and the only finalist from the hgv industry - we are very proud of what he has achieved."
The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the Birmingham Metropole on Thrusday 28th September.
Imagery provided by Bodyshop Magazine
