Top Awards 2026 Finals
The Delphi Academy in Warwick will host the live finals of the 2026 Top Awards on Saturday 14 November, before proceedings shift to the DoubleTree by Hilton, Coventry, for the Top Awards Dinner.
In a first for the event, the live finals day is opening its doors to the wider trade. Workshop owners, vehicle technicians, and apprentices who haven’t made the cut this time round can watch the pressure unfold live from the floor, take in technical seminars and meet headline suppliers including Delphi, Snap-on, TOPDON, LKQ Euro Car Parts, HELLA, Garage Hive, and JLM Lubricants.
Proceedings also include Ben’s Big Breakfast, an on-site networking brunch supporting the industry charity.
Top Technician 2026
The UK’s top five diagnostic technicians, narrowed down from three online stages and October’s semi-finals, face five 50-minute live diagnostic tasks. Devised by Head Judge Ian Gilgrass and previous winner Steve Smith, the tests target complex faults across modern petrol, diesel, hybrid, EV, and alternative powertrain platforms.
The scoring heavily penalises guesswork, rewarding structured diagnostic processes: symptom analysis, dedicated test plans, wiring schematic consultation, and systematic verification.
Past winners have leveraged the title into major career moves and significant tooling and training packages.
Top Garage 2026
Finalists across six operating categories, ranging from single-van mobile operations to 10-plus bay and multi-site businesses, go before a panel of commercial and academic judges.
Running a format akin to Dragons’ Den, entrants deliver a timed business presentation followed by detailed cross-examination.
Scorecards evaluate customer satisfaction, staff training, operational efficiency, and long-term financial planning. The day also resolves the Service Advisor Award and the Ben Health & Wellbeing Award.
Top Apprentice 2026
Returning for a second run under the leadership of Colin Denton, the Top Apprentice stream pits five Level 2 and Level 3 finalists against five hands-on practical stations.
Structured to mirror modern End Point Assessments, tasks cover chassis systems, mechanical inspections, electrical troubleshooting, and real-world customer explanations.
