Toyota’s commitment to quality is not just focussed on the physical production of vehicles – emphasis is also placed on the quality and skills of its technicians and aftersales personnel.
Toyota’s Adult Technical Skills and Apprentice of the Year competition celebrates this – offering winners a top prize of a trip to Japan to attend the Assembly of International Customer Service Champions.
Held at the Toyota and Lexus Academy in Nottingham. Competitors face a rigorous selection process, and have to pass a written exam before qualifying for the main event. Even then, it is only the top performers (four on behalf of Lexus and eight for Toyota) that make it through to the final round, which consists of eight challenging tasks, each lasting 35 minutes.
The competition, which is held annually, is designed to improve the quality of workmanship and technical skills available within each Toyota centre. This ensures that every time a Toyota driver visits a dealer for routine maintenance or a more significant repair, their car is guaranteed to receive the highest standard of care. It also trains and incentivises young apprentices to progress in their careers within the motor trade.
2013 WINNERS:
Body Technician Skills — Daniel Barlow from RRG Group, Bolton
Paint Technician Skills — Tony Glover from Parklands Helston, Cornwall
Toyota Technician Skills — Steve Smith from Hills of Woodford
Lexus Technician Skills — Tony Simmons from Lexus Norwich
Apprentice Service Advisor — Danny Rutherford from Lexus Hull
Apprentice Parts Advisor — Donato Sabatino from RRG Group, Salford Quays
Apprentice Body and Paint — Andrew McPhie from RRG Group, Bolton
Apprentice Service Technician — Peter Gorman from B&M Motors, Reading
