DAVID Sherlock, a technician with Macarthur Jaguar Land Rover in Narellan, New South Wales, has arguably reached the pinnacle of his profession as the winner of the British auto manufacturer’s 2016 Global Technician of the Year award.

Mr Sherlock won the coveted title by beating more than 30 top workshop technicians from JLR dealerships around the world in the week-long final of the competition, held in the UK late last month.

This included representatives from the UK, China, Europe, North America and other markets, all of whom had come through regional competitions across JLR’s international network that spans more than 2000 dealerships in 156 countries.

Mr Sherlock was one of two Australian representatives, having earned the right to compete by winning the domestic competition (for Land Rover) in October, while Craig Yore from Concord Jaguar in Sydney booked his seat on the plane when he took out the top local prize for the cat brand.

Mr Yore finished 12th in the global final, in which contestants are required to complete a series of assessments, both written and practical, to test their technical skills.

Mr Sherlock, who has 10 years’ experience in the industry, entered as a Land Rover contestant and completed all tasks on the off-road brand’s products but, JLR says, was awarded best technician for both brands “due to his impressive across-the-board technical capability and his high level of competency in powertrain, engine repairs, electrics, chassis and theory skills”.

“The whole experience has been amazing,” Mr Sherlock said. “The challenges were very tough but I’m so happy to be crowned Jaguar Land Rover’s Global Technician of the Year!”

The team at Macarthur Jaguar Land Rover – part of the Macarthur Automotive group which spans 10 franchises in the region, south-west of Sydney – was quick to highlight their top technician’s achievement, taking to social media to announce his win and proclaim: “Out of all the outstanding JLR technicians in the world, our boy Dave Sherlock from Macarthur Jaguar Land Rover, Narellan, is the best in the world!”

JLR’s global learning and development director Andy Goy described the competition as an opportunity for the car-maker to recognise the vital role technicians play and to showcase their talent.

Back home, JLR Australia recently held a graduation and awards dinner in Sydney to present Mr Sherlock and Mr Yore their respective Technician of the Year awards, along with other achievement certificates including Parts Apprentice Program Apprentice of the Year (Matthew Kelly, Neil Buckby Motors, Tas), First Year Technical Apprentice of the Year (Aaron Bouman, Brighton Jaguar Land Rover, Vic), Second Year Technical Apprentice of the Year (Josh Mills, Solitaire Jaguar Land Rover, SA) and Third Year Technical Apprentice of the Year (Aaron Kemp, Tamworth Jaguar Land Rover, NSW).

Also in attendance were the 24 graduates from JLR Australia’s 2016 apprenticeship program, including the company’s first female graduate, Roxanne Russell.

By Terry Martin