Delphi Academy once again played host to one of the UK’s most high-profile garage competitions on Saturday 15 November, welcoming the nation’s leading garages, technicians, and apprentices for the 2025 Top Awards finals.
The state-of-the-art training centre in Warwick provided the perfect environment for a day of high-pressure, real-world challenges, with finalists put through demanding practical and business assessments designed to test skill, knowledge, and professionalism.
Top Garage finalists faced in-depth interviews and operational evaluations, presenting their business strategies, leadership, and customer service ethos to a panel of expert judges. Luke Garratt, Delphi’s UK Technical Services Manager, judged the 10+ employee category, while Kenny Kay, Technical Support Advisor at Delphi Academy, oversaw the 1-3 employee category.
“Judging the Top Awards is no easy task,” said Luke. “Every garage, technician, and apprentice is performing at the highest level. As judges, it’s our responsibility to assess them fairly while also offering constructive feedback.
“Helping workshops see where they excel and where they can improve is vital for raising standards and pushing the industry forward, which makes hosting and judging this competition so rewarding for Delphi.”
Meanwhile, Top Technician and newly introduced Top Apprentice finalists tackled practical, timed tasks in the academy’s workshops, testing technical knowledge, diagnostic skills, and problem-solving ability under pressure.
David Guilfoyle, Technical Trainer at Delphi Academy, returned as a judge for Top Technician, bringing his extensive hands-on expertise to assess the UK’s most accomplished vehicle technicians.
Delphi Academy’s purpose-built facilities ensured the competitions ran seamlessly. Top Technician and Top Apprentice finalists worked in fully equipped workshops in one wing, while a neighbouring workshop hosted sponsor exhibitions and technical talks. Above, Top Garage finalists took to the academy’s advanced training rooms to present to judges, overlooking the bustling workshop floor below.
Spanning more than 9,000 sq. ft., the academy houses more than 15 modern vehicles, including a Tesla Model S, BMW 3 Series plug-in hybrid, and the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai, many of which were used for practical challenges and on display for visitors.
Attendees were also treated to street food, with burgers provided free of charge and donations encouraged to raise funds for Ben, the automotive charity supporting health and wellbeing in the trade.
The day’s competitions concluded with a gala evening at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Coventry, where winners of Top Technician, Top Garage, Top Apprentice, the Service Advisor Award, and the BEN Health & Wellbeing Award were celebrated in front of industry peers, sponsors, and media.
“This year’s finals demonstrated exactly why the Top Awards are so highly regarded,” added Luke. “From emerging apprentices to the most accomplished garages and technicians, every finalist showed exceptional skill, professionalism, and commitment. It was an honour to host such a world-class event and witness the future of the industry in action.”
For more information on Delphi Academy and its training programmes, visit: https://www.delphiautoparts.com/en-gb/delphi-academy.
