Over 1,000 students have registered their interest in Keyloop’s Automotive Technology Competition

30 teams across the UK, Ireland and Canada have submitted entries into annual Dealer Tech competition

1 student from Swansea University is taking part

December 2021: Keyloop, the leading global provider of technology solutions to the automotive industry, has revealed that its 2021/22 Dealer Tech competition has attracted the interest of more than 1,000 students, a huge increase on the number who registered last year and a major milestone in the company’s efforts to promote careers in automotive retail.

Now in its second year, the 2021/22 Dealer Tech competition has already seen significant growth over the 2020/21 competition. This year 13 universities across the UK, Ireland and Canada are taking part (compared to six last year) and over 1000 students registered their interest following the competition’s September launch, with 30 teams being formed. The winning team from each university will win £1,000 and the top six teams will compete in a national final to win an additional £10,000 for their achievement.

Keyloop launched the first Dealer Tech competition, which invites students to develop innovative, tech-focused solutions to improve the car purchasing or ownership experience, in 2020. The aim of the competition is to drive awareness of the job opportunities available in the automotive retail sector and encourage fresh, young talent into the industry.

To build on student registrations this year, Keyloop worked with student ambassadors, who contacted lecturers, attended society and club meetings, promoted the competition in the student unions and more. This on-campus promotion has raised the profile of automotive retail in the minds of students, evidenced by the total sign-up number of 1,171. As the competition unfolds, the student ambassadors will continue to promote the competition and celebrate the progress of their university’s teams.

Of the students that registered their interest, 30 teams have submitted formal entries into the competition and will now have until January to develop, create and build upon their ideas before the university judging takes place in February.

Commenting on this year’s initial success, Tom Kilroy, CEO at Keyloop, said:

“After the fully virtual competition that we hosted last year due to COVID, it’s been great to get out to campuses this year and spread the word about our Dealer Tech competition, and more broadly about the opportunities available in the automotive retail industry. Greater diversity and fresh thinking are pivotal to our commitment to transform the car buying and aftersales experience for consumers, and we can only do that if we proactively reach out to new audiences to raise awareness of careers in our industry.

“We hope that the students taking part enjoy the experience and learn new skills and concepts to help them in the future, whether that future is in automotive tech or otherwise. At the very least, we’re glad to be able to put automotive retail on their radar and broaden their understanding of the industry.”

Find out more about the competition at: https://keyloop.com/dealertech/

 Full list of participating universities:

• Imperial College London
• King’s College London
• Munster Technological University (Ireland)
• Swansea University
• University of Bath
• University of Birmingham
• University of Bristol
• University of Buckingham
• University of Exeter
• University of Manitoba (Canada)
• University of Surrey
• University of Warwick
• University of York