A Leicester man is bidding to represent the UK at an internationally-renowned skills tournament.
Ross Varnam, 20, from Glenfield in the city, and Mark Brown, 22, from Glasgow, are being mentored by World Skills’ Chief Expert for Autobody Repair, Karl Vella MBE ahead of the World Skills tournament in London this autumn.
Alongside fellow coach Stuart Alexander, of Rugby-based Car-O-liner, they will be putting Ross and Mark through their paces over the next few months, and marking them against World Skills standards. Whoever scores the highest marks will go through to the UK team and will be pitted against other highly skilled panel beaters from around the world.
To help get the lads in tip top condition, they will be spending weeks at the Karl Vella Group’s HQ in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. where, under Karl and Stuart’s watchful eyes, they will be tested on a number of different disciplines.
Everything is being recreated to ensure that the conditions in the test runs are similar to those in the finals – even down to the type of car they will be working on, a Honda Jazz. Ross, who went to Leicester College and works for Parkers Accident Repair Centre in Leicester, said: “It’s very hard work but I am really enjoying myself. Whatever happens, competing for this has given me more confidence in my abilities as I have learned so much."
“The World Skills standard is very high and it would be a real honour to represent the UK.”
Karl, who is the World Skills’ UK expert for autobody repair, said: “Ross and Mark are both very talented lads and are learning new skills all the time – everything from repairs and finishing to nutrition, making sure they are focused both mentally and physically.”
“We will be asking them both to do a series of tasks, using the same grading criteria as they would be judged on in the finals.”