The competition, also known as the ‘Skills Olympics’, showcases the talents of apprentices around the world in a variety of occupational categories from traditional areas such as sheetmetal work, jewellery, plumbing and autobody repair to non-traditional skills including graphic design, IT and web design

Simon, who has already been awarded the title of Young Panel Technician of the Year in the Bodyshop Magazine Industry Awards for an unprecedented two years running, has been through a rigorous selection process involving rounds of competition at the highest level. This process has tested his skills to the limit and allowed him to achieve this amazing accolade.  

Simon, who served his apprenticeship at Simon Bailes in Northallerton, will spend the next eight months preparing for the international competition. His mentors at Simon Bailes Accident Repair Centre and the WorldSkills organisation will invest many hours of their time to ensure that he has the opportunity to refine his skills to win a gold medal for the UK.

It is a world class achievement for Simon to be able to represent his country in an international competition and it is major reflection on him and the level of skill he has achieved through his dedication to his chosen trade.

Speaking about his achievements, twenty-year old Simon from Billingham commented: “It has been really hard work qualifying but the reward has been well worth it. I can hardly believe that I have been chosen to represent the UK and am now spending all my time working towards the competition in November. The great thing is that I put my skills into practice every single day at Simon Bailes which is what I really enjoy.”

Managing Director of Simon Bailes Peugeot, Simon Bailes added: “Simon excels in his role as a panel technician and it is a real credit to him and the team he works with that he now has this unique opportunity to fly the flag for his country in Japan. I am a passionate believer in raising the status of skills and vocational education to inspire a new generation of youngsters and it is even more encouraging that we are nurturing such talent in the North East.”