Key Points
- National Finalists Announced: Apprentices Mason Clarke and Kamran Ibrahim-Holland have qualified as two of only 18 young automotive technicians selected across the UK for the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Skills Competitions National Finals 2026.
- Specialised Automotive Categories: Mason Clarke, an apprentice at BCA Automotive training with Doncaster Rotherham & District GTA, will compete in Automotive Refinishing. Kamran Ibrahim-Holland, an apprentice at Stoneacre training with Stoneacre Academy, will compete in Automotive Technology.
- National Recognition for Doncaster: Doncaster has secured a rare achievement as one of only three locations across the United Kingdom to have more than one apprentice reach the national finals.
- Finals Venue and Date: The multi-stage national final is scheduled to take place on 19 November 2026 at the Cardiff & Vale College Automotive Training Centre.
- Industry Skills Focus: The competition highlights the urgent demand for advanced technical training in electric, connected, and driver-assistance vehicle technologies across the British automotive sector.
Doncaster(Britain Post News) November 10, 2026 – Executive Summary: Doncaster apprentices Mason Clarke and Kamran Ibrahim-Holland have successfully qualified for the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Skills Competitions National Finals 2026. Out of hundreds of entrants across the UK, the duo earned two of just 18 finalist positions following high-scoring performances in national qualifier rounds. Competing on 19 November 2026 at Cardiff & Vale College Automotive Training Centre, Clarke will contest the Automotive Refinishing category while Ibrahim-Holland competes in Automotive Technology. Their qualification places Doncaster among only three UK locations with multiple finalists in this year’s national competition.
- Key Points
- Which Doncaster Apprentices Have Advanced to the IMI Skills National Finals?
- When and Where Will the IMI Skills Competitions National Finals Take Place?
- Background of the Particular Development
- Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Automotive Apprentices, Employers, and Regional Training Hubs
Two young apprentices from South Yorkshire have earned places in the national finals of the prestigious Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Skills Competitions 2026 following rigorous regional qualifier events. Mason Clarke of BCA Automotive and Kamran Ibrahim-Holland of Stoneacre will represent Doncaster against top technical talent from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Scheduled for 19 November 2026 at Cardiff & Vale College, the national final places both technicians among the top six in their respective disciplines nationwide. Organisers noted that Doncaster’s dual representation underscores the region’s contribution to training the skilled workforce required as the UK automotive industry adapts to electric and connected vehicle technologies.
Which Doncaster Apprentices Have Advanced to the IMI Skills National Finals?
As reported by Darren Burke of the Doncaster Free Press, Mason Clarke and Kamran Ibrahim-Holland successfully secured their positions in the IMI Skills Competitions National Finals 2026 after progressing through a series of intense National Qualifier events held across Great Britain.
As detailed by Darren Burke of the Doncaster Free Press, Mason Clarke serves as an apprentice at BCA Automotive while receiving formal technical instruction through Doncaster Rotherham & District GTA. Clarke has been selected as one of the top six apprentices in the United Kingdom competing specifically within the Automotive Refinishing discipline.
As reported by Darren Burke of the Doncaster Free Press, Kamran Ibrahim-Holland works as an apprentice technician with motor retailer Stoneacre, completing his technical education via the Stoneacre Academy. Ibrahim-Holland has earned a place as one of the top six young technicians nationally within the Automotive Technology discipline.
The selection process narrowed down entrants from across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to a final field of just 18 apprentices divided across three main automotive specialisms. Consequently, Doncaster has emerged as one of only three geographical areas in the entire United Kingdom to send more than one apprentice to the 2026 national final.
When and Where Will the IMI Skills Competitions National Finals Take Place?
As reported by Darren Burke of the Doncaster Free Press, the national final will take place on Wednesday, 19 November 2026, hosted at the Cardiff & Vale College Automotive Training Centre in Cardiff, Wales.
As detailed by Michael Massey, IMI Skills Competition Manager, in an official statement published by the Institute of the Motor Industry, the annual event evaluates technical knowledge, practical precision, and fault-finding under strict timed conditions.
As stated by an official spokesperson for the IMI Skills Competitions in coverage by the Doncaster Free Press: “It’s proof that the skills being developed in Doncaster are making a national difference.”
The spokesperson added: “As the automotive industry races to keep pace with electric, connected and driver assistance technology, apprentices like Mason and Kamran and the local employers and training providers investing in them, are helping to build the skilled workforce the whole of the UK depends on.”
As reported by the Doncaster Free Press, industry leaders highlighted the wider economic role of vocational pathways, with the spokesperson noting: “At a time when skills development, apprenticeships and technical education are high on the national agenda, the National Finals are also an opportunity to celebrate local talent and recognise the employers, colleges and training providers investing in the next generation.”
Background of the Particular Development
The IMI Skills Competitions, managed by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) and headline sponsored by Milwaukee Tool alongside industry partners including WD-40, 3M, and Glasurit, represent the benchmark technical contest for automotive apprenticeships in the UK. Designed to align with WorldSkills standards, the annual tournament assesses apprentices across three core branches: Automotive Technology, Automotive Body Repair, and Automotive Refinishing.
The qualification pipeline begins early in the calendar year with online testing and practical regional qualifier heats. Thousands of young technicians enrolled in college schemes and independent training organisations compete for entry into the top ranks. The finalists selected for the November showpiece complete specialized pre-final training sessions provided by vehicle manufacturers and equipment suppliers to ensure familiarity with modern bodywork materials, diagnostic software, and high-voltage electric vehicle (EV) safety protocols.
In South Yorkshire, local training hubs like Doncaster Rotherham & District GTA and employer-led academies such as Stoneacre Academy have expanded their capital investments in workshop technology to address persistent skills shortages across the UK motor trade.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Automotive Apprentices, Employers, and Regional Training Hubs
The qualification of Mason Clarke and Kamran Ibrahim-Holland for the IMI National Finals will generate clear outcomes across local education, regional employment, and national industry training standards.
Impact on Automotive Apprentices and Vocational Students
For young apprentices and school leavers in South Yorkshire, the national success of Clarke and Ibrahim-Holland provides a clear validation of technical career routes. High-profile recognition in national skill finals demonstrates that non-academic vocational tracks lead directly to elite industry standing. Future cohorts entering Doncaster Rotherham & District GTA and Stoneacre Academy are likely to see increased participation in national skills benchmarks, driving higher engagement in advanced apprenticeships.
Impact on Regional Employers and Independent Dealerships
For local employers like BCA Automotive and dealership networks like Stoneacre, sponsoring national finalists enhances brand reputation and workforce retention. As the automotive market shifts rapidly toward electrified powertrains and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), employers with top-tier technical training infrastructure will attract higher-caliber candidates. Demonstrating excellence in body refinishing and system diagnostics position these firms to secure lucrative repair contracts and insurer approvals.
Impact on National Automotive Skills Standards
For the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) and technical colleges like Cardiff & Vale College, the 2026 competition underlines the changing technical requirements of the UK transport sector. The performance data gathered from finalists in Cardiff will inform future apprenticeship standard updates, ensuring that training providers nationwide continue prioritizing high-voltage handling, complex panel refinishing, and digital system calibration as standard modules across UK technical education
