Garage Matters: Independent Garage News and Events

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

Mike Ruff12 May, 202612 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff12 May, 202612 May, 20260

Organisers of the Top Awards have officially extended the entry deadline for the 2026 competition cycle to June 12, allowing the industry one final chance

Education

Prime Minister’s skills pledge will stall without urgent apprenticeship reform, IMI says

Mike Ruff11 May, 202611 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff11 May, 202611 May, 20262

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has issued a stark warning to Downing Street: the Prime Minister’s vision for a high-skilled UK workforce risks

Motoring Technical

Emissions and electrical faults top repairs for aging premium cars

Mike Ruff11 May, 202611 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff11 May, 202611 May, 20261

Warrantywise has released its 2026 Reliability Index, and the findings offer a stark reminder for independent garages: high-ticket used cars are often the ones that

Garage management

Generic websites under fire as garages demand real returns from digital spend

Mike Ruff11 May, 202611 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff11 May, 202611 May, 20260

Independent garage owners across the UK and Ireland are increasingly moving away from generic web agencies in favour of specialist automotive digital partners, as frustration

Brand news

Race Group and Slicker Recycling launch fixed-fee waste oil service

Mike Ruff8 May, 202611 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff8 May, 202611 May, 20260

The Race Group and Slicker Recycling have announced a new partnership designed to simplify waste management for UK workshops through a fixed-fee, “circular economy” service.

Event news

The Blend returns to Snowdon to complete postponed charity hike

Mike Ruff8 May, 20268 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff8 May, 20268 May, 20260

Members of The Blend community have once again demonstrated their resilience and solidarity, successfully completing the postponed Blend Charity Hike to Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), raising

Garage management Uncategorized

‘They get us the work we want’: Inside Lea Motors’ digital strategy to filter out low-value jobs

Mike Ruff6 May, 20266 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff6 May, 20266 May, 20260

Independent garages across the UK know the challenge of standing out online. For Hertfordshire-based Lea Motors, a busy eight-staff garage with seven ramps, the solution

Influencers Parts YouTubers

Cooper’s Mobile Mechanics: Wrong and faulty parts disrupt busy week

Jack Corbett1 May, 20261 May, 2026

by Jack Corbett1 May, 20261 May, 20261

There are few things more frustrating than clearing your schedule for a straightforward repair, only to be derailed by a faulty component straight out of

Brand news

Valeo appoints Bastian Mertens to lead Northern Europe strategy

Mike Ruff29 April, 202629 April, 2026

by Mike Ruff29 April, 202629 April, 20260

Valeo Service UK has announced the appointment of Bastian Mertens as Director of Marketing Aftermarket Northern Europe, signalling the next stage of the supplier’s development

Influencers Technical YouTubers

Simply Diagnostics: Steve Scott tackles BMW headlamp and sensor faults

Jack Corbett28 April, 20261 May, 2026

by Jack Corbett28 April, 20261 May, 20260

Steve Scott from Simply Diagnostics tackles a notoriously tricky scenario that will be all too familiar to technicians: a BMW presenting with a daunting wall

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

Prime Minister’s skills pledge will stall without urgent apprenticeship reform, IMI says

Emissions and electrical faults top repairs for aging premium cars

Generic websites under fire as garages demand real returns from digital spend

Race Group and Slicker Recycling launch fixed-fee waste oil service

The Blend returns to Snowdon to complete postponed charity hike

‘They get us the work we want’: Inside Lea Motors’ digital strategy to filter out low-value jobs

Cooper’s Mobile Mechanics: Wrong and faulty parts disrupt busy week

Valeo appoints Bastian Mertens to lead Northern Europe strategy

Simply Diagnostics: Steve Scott tackles BMW headlamp and sensor faults

What BYD’s pedal box recall tells technicians about Chinese EV durability

Schaeffler targets platform expansion as Kian Patel steps up to lead UK...

Continental adds 650+ large sizes as 18-inch-plus becomes the norm

Allianz returns as headline sponsor for British Independent Garage Awards 2027

New GSO client lead aims to take garage support beyond websites

What BYD’s pedal box recall tells technicians about Chinese EV durability

Schaeffler targets platform expansion as Kian Patel steps up to lead UK REPXPERT

Continental adds 650+ large sizes as 18-inch-plus becomes the norm

Allianz returns as headline sponsor for British Independent Garage Awards 2027

New GSO client lead aims to take garage support beyond websites