Autotechnician magazine Jul/Aug 24

UK Garage & Bodyshop Event hits the mark for visitors and suppliers

Over the two days, the UK Garage & Bodyshop Event 2024 welcomed an impressive 5,125 industry professionals through the doors, consisting mainly of garage and workshop owners, technicians, and bodyshop experts. Autotechnician magazine had a fantastic couple of days speaking with suppliers, technicians and industry friends to learn more about the challenges readers face and the innovative products & services this wonderful industry has created to help independent workshops succeed when the goal posts seem to constantly move. Click here to view our brief video overview.

Held from 5th to 6th June 2024, guests were provided access to dynamic training, cutting-edge technologies, a plethora of new products, equipment and essential tools. Visitors participated in interactive exhibitions, live demonstrations, and workshops, with more than 100 hours of seminars led by 80+ industry experts, covering topics such as engine fault diagnostics, MOT, diesel, ADAS, and more.

Common themes of conservation included upskilling the workforce and helping to plug the skills gap by utilising training and recruitment strategies. Other topics included best-practice business management and efficiency advice, monetising new technology, maximising garage profitability, and preparing for future mobility. A total of 180 suppliers took part, including ZF, Bosch, Hella, Alliance Automotive Group, Snap-On, Comma, LKQ Euro Car Parts, Niterra (formerly NGK) and Castrol. Many exhibitors chose the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event as the place to launch more than 25 new products to support service and repair and fault-finding.

A new key feature was the Modern Garage, sponsored by LKQ Euro Car Parts, designed for business owners and managers to equip themselves with the tools, technology, and expertise to service and repair modern vehicles effectively and profitably.

Joanne Knowles, event director, said: “The second edition of the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event has surpassed all expectations. The growth in attendance and the overwhelming positive feedback from both exhibitors and visitors demonstrate the event's importance in the automotive industry. It’s clear that garage and bodyshop professionals very much welcome the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge technologies, expert training, and invaluable networking opportunities in the alternate Automechanika Birmingham years.”

“The life of a small business owner can be lonely, and that state of isolation can leave us unwilling to venture out, to try new things. Therefore, the meeting of others at trade events, a community of likeminded people that share the same challenges and opportunities on a daily basis, has perhaps never been as important to our working lives.”

Mark Field, Chief Executive of the IAAF

Industry talent recognised

The event also welcomed the second edition of the Automechanika Birmingham Garage Awards, hosted by the trade association, Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF).

The winners of the Automechanika Birmingham Garage Awards 2024 were:

Garage of the Year: Shaikly Motor Company

Best Multi-site Garage: CCM Garage

Best Single Site Garage: DC Lomas

Best Community Initiative: Fix Auto Leicester

Best Marketing: Walsall Wood Tyre & Service Ltd

Best Customer Service: Uckfield Motor Services

Auto-Mechanik of the Year: James Price, James Price’s Garage

Inspiring Female Award: Sophie Lyden, Fresh Drivers UK

Young Mechanik: Callum Ramsey, CCM Garage

Content Creator Award: Baz Meredith

Lifetime Achievement Award: David Fry, Bee Cool ACS.

Mark Field, chief executive of IAAF, praised the calibre of the finalists and the difficult decisions faced by the judging panel: “The level of talent and dedication displayed by all the finalists was truly remarkable. It was a challenging task to choose the winners given the outstanding contributions made by each nominee to the automotive aftermarket. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists and thank you for your unwavering commitment to bringing the industry forward.”

«Editor Nicola St Clair with Louise & Chris of Purple Frog Signs

Autotechnician Meet the Experts

Visitors could access free business clinics at autotechnician’s Meet the Experts area and enjoy a oneto-one with technical trainers following their sessions at the Workshop Technical Hub. Louise and Chris from Purple Frog Signs gave advice on workshop branding, signage and vehicle graphics and are offering readers a discount on their services. Email info@purplefrogsigns.com for details.

Marketeer Dee Blick, AT Editor Nicola St Clair & HR expert Amy Blick

Internationally renowned marketer Dee Blick, author of ‘The 15 Essential Marketing Masterclasses for Your Small Business’, rated ‘an excellent read’ by The Sun, answered visitors’ marketing and sales questions and was joined by AT’s new HR contributor Amy Blick, who specialises in helping businesses harness the power of their people. Dee speaks with autotechnician Editor Nicola St Clair and introduces the mag's new HR & training columnist Amy Blick in this brief video.

‘Show makers’ gain work valuable experience at event

The UK Garage & Bodyshop Event introduced a ‘SHOW MAKER’ initiative as part of its participation in School of Thought's Ambassador Programme, which saw 15 enthusiastic students gain invaluable work experience by taking on various tasks and roles throughout the show.

Alex Jones, Marketing Director of Messe Frankfurt, organisers of the event, said: “A huge thanks to Sandwell College for helping give these 15 students the chance to participate. All of the SHOW MAKERS were a valuable addition to the team, and I’d like to thank them for their support on behalf of Messe Frankfurt. This initiative not only supports the students' growth but also highlights the importance of bringing fresh talent into the industry.”

The ‘SHOW MAKERs’ included: Barry Alhassane, Akeel Ali, Ryan Bradshaw, Ebrima Ceesay, Connor Day, Marwan Hussein, Kelechil Ifendu, Rishab Langi, Prince-Armani Mbuyamb, Stephen Odiase, Sahil Pal, Callum Riley, JuanCarlos Srango and Jasvir Singh.

Dave Reece, founder of School of Thought, emphasised the significance of such initiatives: “Attracting young talent into the industry is crucial to help plug the skills gap. By offering these students a platform to gain practical experience, we are investing in the future of the automotive sector.”

School of Thought encourages all companies within the automotive industry to open up work experience opportunities. For more information on how to get involved, please contact Dave Reece at dave@ready4work.uk

Show news

Alldata was joined by Steve Scott, founder of the SimplyDiag network, Karl Booth of Opus IVS and James Dillon of Technical Topics to explore the challenges of new vehicle technologies, the importance of VM data, investment in tooling and more in a lively panel session, see page 26 for more details. Dozens of visitors signed-up for a month’s free trial on its stand and also took advantage of its show offer of getting a 12-month subscription to its repair data for the price of 11.

BM Catalysts introduced two new garage initiatives – BM Garage Pro and BM Rewards Pro. The first is an e-learning platform to boost product knowledge through video content and provides access to technical information and news updates to help technicians stay ahead of evolving emissions control technologies and regulations. BM Rewards Pro enables garages to earn points, or an extended manufacturer’s warranty, when installing and registering its products. Points can be redeemed from thousands of items, including the latest technology to branded merchandise.

Holly Brailsford, Marketing Manager at BM Catalysts, said: “These initiatives are the result of extensive research and development to ensure they meet the needs of installers and we’re confident that they will help bolster knowledge and ultimately enhance businesses throughout the aftermarket.”

HELLA had a successful two days at the event with its diagnostic-led stand, demonstrating its mega macs X, alongside the Hella Gutmann MT-HV, which extends the capabilities of mega macs X for hybrid and electric vehicles. “Our variable software and licensing models that give workshops the option to upgrade their licence to unlock additional new functionality at any time received a definite thumbs-up from visitors,” said Julian Goulding, Head of Sales.

Maverick Diagnostics unveiled its new Mobile ADAS Recalibration System, MARS for short, which is due for release soon. It boasts a compact design and has a collapsible stand that reduces to a 36” frame. It is fully compatible with OEM service information, enabling exact calibrations of front radar and blind spot radar systems using both OEM and aftermarket scan tools. Although it is quick to set-up and pack away it is very robust, made from anodised aluminium and stainless steel. MD Laura Hall commented: “The kit also comes with multiple targets that are space-saving, as they can be rolled up. Ultimately, M.A.R.S offers a practical, efficient solution for ADAS recalibrations, meeting the needs of technicians and workshop owners who require reliable, easyto-store equipment.”

Niterra provided a seminar on why precious metal spark plugs are more than ‘just’ an upsell, which covered the impact on new vehicle functions. Its stand provided various competitions for visitors to take part in and hosted its sponsored British racing star driver Max Coates who went head-to-head in a reaction time challenge with guests. Marketing Manager Becca Knight commented: ““We always want customers to speak to us about the products they know and love, but we also want them to discover something new with us such as the real-world benefits of precious metals and how many sensor solutions we offer. It was a great show, and we want to thank everyone who came to see us.”

Ring Automotive’s stand was filled with timesaving, customer service enhancing and profit boosting products, a few of which are shown in our event video. Its new battery analyser was popular with visitors, providing a complete health check of the battery and electrical systems in both 12V and 24V vehicles. Suitable for 12V lead acid, AGM, EFB, gel and LiFePO4 lithium, as well as start/stop batteries, the unit tests the battery, alternator, starter and vehicle earth, with results printed using the built-in thermal printer.

The Motor Ombudsman launched its ‘Make Time for Tyres’ campaign alongside road safety campaigner Sophie Lyden, which emphasises the importance of tyre maintenance and regular checks by motorists. A suite of eye-catching posters available for display by garages, and social media graphics, themed around the concept of ‘time’, have been created to promote the campaign to drivers.

Over 50 workshops registered for ZF [pro]Tech at the show, and trainers delivered demonstrations on its new Nissan Leaf training vehicle, to highlight its EV, hybrid and ADAS training. Darren Lloyd, Technical and Training Manager at ZF Aftermarket, commented: “It was fantastic to meet so many forward-thinking garages and technicians. Ongoing training is crucial for technicians to stay updated with the latest developments, effectively diagnose and repair modern vehicles, and continue offering high-quality service.”

Automechanika Birmingham will return in 2025 and the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event returns in 2026.