The IMI Automotive Body Repair Qualifiers took place at Eyebox Training & Conference Centre 20th - 22nd May 2026.
Each day, six students in Automotive Repair and six students in Automotive Refinishing competed for a place in the live finals in November in Cardiff. After the finals, winners have the opportunity to progress with WorldSkills Team UK to the biannual WorldSkills International competition to be held in Japan in 2028.
This is the third consecutive year that we have hosted the events, allowing both competition streams to take part in the same location. Morelli have sponsored and supported these IMI Skills events since 2011 and we are continually impressed with the standard of work coming through.
Andrew Moring, Morelli Group Marketing Director, says,
“Morelli Group have been longterm supporters of WorldSkills UK since 2011 and we are delighted to be hosting the IMI’s Skills Competitions National Qualifiers at Eyebox for the third consecutive year. Since the events have taken part at Eyebox, the Body Repair and Refinishing competitions have been able to take place in the same location. The first time this happened was the first time we hosted in 2024. Eyebox gives us the opportunity to replicate a real life bodyshop environment for the competitors, hopefully aiding the apprentices as they learn. We are very proud to give back to our sector by supporting colleges, apprentices, and young new talent seeking employment in our rewarding industry."
Michael Massey, IMI Skills Competitions Manager, said:
"Enormous thank you must go to Morelli Group for not only having us and feeding us at Eyebox Training & Conference Centre. We've been kitted out by Milwaukee Tools again, working on panels from Toyota Motor Corporation, and ITAS - International Technical Automotive Systems, premium products and logistics from Car-o-Liner UK Ltd, quality paint systems from BASF with their Glasurit 100 Line, SATA UK LTD spray equipment, top quality consumables and PPE from 3M.
Our The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) competitions wouldn't be the spectacle they are today without our competition supporters, panel of expert judges from various areas of the industry, and incredible team at The IMI pulling it all together."
Good luck to all competitors, we wish you all the best!
With thanks to the IMI, Worldskills UK, Milwaukee, Toyota, ITAS, Car-o-Liner, BASF / Glasurit, SATA, and 3M.