Essex-based Honda technician, John Couldridge, has been given an early Christmas present in the form of a brand new CR-Z (Honda’s ‘sporty’ hybrid car), as recognition of his enormous achievement at WorldSkills London 2011 earlier this year, where he brought home a bronze medal for the UK.
The black CR-Z GT was presented to him in a surprise ceremony by Honda (UK)’s Managing Director, Dave Hodgetts at Glyn Hopkin Honda in Romford.
“We’re enormously proud of John’s achievement and wanted to recognise this in a meaningful way,” explains Dave Hodgetts. “He worked phenomenally hard for that bronze medal – over three years of study and qualifying rounds to beat off 1500 other hopefuls to win a place on Team UK – all the while holding down a full-time job at the dealership. I hope he enjoys every trip he makes in the CR-Z – he deserves it.”
WorldSkills is a unique global competition where young people from across the world compete to become the best of the best. WorldSkills London 2011 took place from 5th to 8th October this year with over a thousand competitors competing in 46 skills, ranging from automotive engineering and landscape gardening to plumbing and web design. John competed within the ‘Automobile Technology’ skills category at the event, bringing home a bronze medal for Team UK.
“I’m not usually lost for words but this has left me speechless!,” said John. “I was expecting a certificate and perhaps a new torque wrench but this is WAY better! When Honda launched this car, I fell in love with it so to have one for myself is fantastic. The first journey I’m going to make is to drive it home to show my partner, I can’t wait to see her reaction’
Honda (UK) was a Gold sponsor of WorldSkills London 2011 and this involvement is part of the company’s wider education strategy which aims to give back to it communities, inspire and encourage the pursuit of dreams, and bring the education and business communities closer together.
