This latest entry in the Garage Matters Workshop Watchlist features a roundtable of elite technicians sharing their experiences of Top Awards, Top Technician competition.

With the 2026 deadline now extended to 12 June 2026, finalists from previous years discuss how the event provides the clear, honest information a technician needs to identify their own training gaps and succeed.

The discussion explores the progression through five grueling rounds, where practical guidance is put to the ultimate test under intense pressure.

Finalists Chris, Matt, and others describe the transition from accessible initial stages to complex practical assessments involving EV charging, thermal management, and even hydrogen systems.

Related: ‘Garage Oscars’ deadline extended as Top Awards calls on UK Garage and Bodyshop visitors to enter

For many, the competition was the first time they had to use new technology like thermal imaging cameras “in anger” to trace parasitic draws, forcing them out of the “stagnation bubble” of their daily workshop routines.

A recurring theme among these high-level diagnostic leads was imposter syndrome, with several admitting they doubted their abilities until the tools were in their hands.

One participant noted how a previous failure on a Nissan Leaf charging fault prompted a deep technical dive that eventually led to his success, proving that meaningful engagement with one’s own limitations is a badge of honour for both the technician and the independent garage that employs them.