News
Masterfitter Competition
The UK Masterfitter competition provides automotive glazing technicians the chance to pit their skills against the best.
Organised by Proskills the competition requires technicians to repair and replace a windscreen, as well as replace a side window and rear window, within a specified timeframe. Competitors are allowed to use their own tools or those provided.
A series of five regional finals are currently being held across the UK and the national final will take place at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 16 September where we will find a UK champion who will represent the UK at the 2010 International Master Fitter Competition.
The regional finals
The regional finals which are currently taking places across the UK have found 2 winners.
Mark Palmer of Bristol-based Advanced Windscreen Services, triumphed in a closely fought competition at Swansea College.
After winning the event, Mark said: “It was a tough day; I have been doing the job for a number of years now but never been involved in a competition before. I was feeling a bit nervous at first, but the Assessors had tried to make it seem as normal as possible, we were working on the type of cars we see every day, and the workshop we were in was just like the ones we work in all the time. The first few minutes were a bit strange but everyone tried to help me relax. After the last job I thought I had done okay but had no idea if I had done enough to win so when I was told I was surprised but really pleased. The Assessors really knew their stuff, and gave me ideas of the things I need to work on to give me a better chance of winning the UK final. I would like to thank my boss at Advanced Windscreen Services Ian Wiltshire for giving me the time to take part and also giving me some tips to help me do well. I was impressed with the whole set up and John Ferry who came second was a great competitor and I hope he also gets to the final”.
To help Mark prepare for the final, he is undertaking a National Vocational Qualification in Automotive Glazing with the Independent Windscreen Academy.
Andy Fountain from Cambuslang beat off stiff competition to claim the title of first Scottish champion.
Co-owner of Advance Windscreens, Andy was among a group of Scotland’s most skilled professionals who competed in the first regional which took place at Autoglaze, based in Crathie Road, Kilmarnock.
Having earned the title of Scottish champion, Andy Fountain said: “It was a tough day even though the jobs I had to do were no different from the type I do every day but I have to be honest, I was a bit nervous at first. Once I got into it and felt more relaxed, I felt much more confident and I was delighted to hear that I’d come out on top. Now I just want to go down to Cardiff and bring the UK Master Fitter title to Scotland!”
The 5 winners from the regional events, and the best runner up overall will battle it out for the title of UK Master Fitter at the grand final being held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 16 September.