Sytner Elite Technician - Alice Taylor Q&A

We spoke to one of our Elite Technician 2023 winners, Alice Taylor, ahead of the winner’s trip to America:

What made you enter the competition?

This was actually my second year entering the competition, as the opportunity to win a trip to America isn’t something you can just ignore! I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to be able to compete and prove how far I have come in my apprenticeship to myself, the providers and Sytner. I wanted to use it as a chance to showcase everything I have learnt along the way, and I think I managed to do just that!

What inspired you to become a technician?

I have always had a real passion for cars, vehicles and engineering in general, so it was actually quite an obvious career choice for me! The dream has always been to start a mechanical and electrical engineering apprenticeship since leaving school at 16. I had an interest in cars outside of work so it seemed like the obvious career move to merge the two together. 

What was your initial reaction when they announced your name as winner?

Complete shock! It didn't fully sink in until I got in the car to drive home. It quickly changed into pride and excitement at the idea that I would be going to America!

How does it feel knowing you are the first female apprentice technician winner of the Elite Technician Challenge?

I’m proud of the achievement and I hope it inspires other females in the industry to push themselves out of their comfort zones to see what they can achieve. There’s 2 of us so far (including Chloe) that have made it to the finals, so there’s definitely more potential, we just need to be brave enough to put ourselves out there and apply! In a male dominated industry it can definitely be a daunting task, but seeing females make it to the finals and actually winning should be great motivation.

What would you say to anyone thinking about a career in the motor industry?

If you have a passion for cars then why not? I was never going to have an office-based job as the idea just didn’t appeal to me, and the opportunity to turn a hobby in to a paying career is what everyone wants. Being a Technician isn’t a stagnant role, there are so many opportunities to progress and so much variety within the role itself- no two days are the same!

Will you be applying to enter again next year?
I will definitely be applying again!! I’m hoping to enter the MINI category next year as I have now completed my Sytner apprenticeship and qualified as a Technician, but there’s some seriously strong competition in that category. However, I do love a challenge, so watch this space!