Founded in 1920, The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is the professional association for individuals working in the motor industry and its annual awards event celebrates excellence within the industry.
Sam Kirk was nominated by his course leader after completing the Automotive Level 1 Study Programme at Lincoln College, in acknowledgement of his success within and outside of the programme.
Alongside his studies, Sam has experienced working alongside British Superbikes rider Storm Stacey and his team at Donnington Park and has gained virtual work experience during the pandemic. Sam has also been supporting his studies with a part time job at a local Suzuki dealership and is now working towards his Level 2 qualification.
Learning & Skills Lead at Lincoln College, Pete Jackson said: “Sam is a pleasure to have in the classrooms and workshops and he really deserves the recognition of this award, which is a real accolade to be celebrated.
“Sam’s very knowledgeable and he’s expressed a great interest in the automotive industry, building his technical skills as well as his life and soft skills. All across our subject areas, Sam’s received great feedback and floods of compliments from our team and so I’m sure he’ll do very well in the industry. Sam’s always the first one to contribute to group sessions and his enthusiasm is infectious so, even when the course was affected by the pandemic, he powered on through.”
The automotive study programmes at Lincoln College are designed to equip learners with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in the automotive sector, with experience in vehicle maintenance, technologies and components.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Sam has recently completed his IMI Level 1 qualification with Lincoln College and is now pursuing a Level 2 qualification. Sam is also taking part in additional sessions focusing on new and emerging technologies in the automotive industry including electric and hybrid vehicle technology and advanced driver assist system (ADAS) technology.
Speaking about his nomination, Sam Kirk said: “I’m really excited to be shortlisted for this award. It feels so good to know that my hard work is being recognised in this way and I wasn’t expecting it at all. I’ve really enjoyed the course at Lincoln College where I’ve learned a wide range of skills. Whether it’s the mechanics of wheels, tyres, brakes, or new innovations, I’ve loved it all.
“I’ve always been a petrol head and it’s a dream of mine to either run my own garage or work for a race team and so the experience I had with Storm Stacey’s BSB was amazing. I’m hoping to buy my own race bike soon so I can hone my skills further and demonstrate what I can do so I can hopefully get into the world of racing.”
Sam is one of just three students to have been shortlisted for the award for Full-Time Student of the Year. The winners of the IMI Awards 2022 will be announced at a dinner reception on 17th March.
For more information on The IMI, visit tide.theimi.org.uk and for information on Lincoln College and it’s range of courses and learning programmes, visit www.lincolncollege.ac.uk.
