September 2018

NEWS The winners for Top Technician 2018 and Top Garage 2018 have been announced. For Top Technician 2018, the winner was Shaun Miller from Millers Garage in Newbury, Berkshire, with Matthew Pestridge of D&D Autos in Ashford, Kent named as runner-up. For Top Garage 2018, the winner was Cedar Garage from Worthing in West Sussex. Top Technician Top Technician saw another extremely tight final this year. Shaun claimed the title by showing a first-class diagnostic process and top-notch fault finding abilities on a range of vehicles. Shaun’s win follows his extremely good showing in 2017, when he was runner-up. Commenting on his victory in the competition, Shaun said: “I am so delighted to be Top Technician 2018. Half a lifetime has gone into this achievement, since I first started in the industry. I wanted to win Top Technician when I first heard about it seven years ago, and now I have. It’s amazing to have this trophy.” This year saw almost 1,000 techs take the initial online test, with that number brought down to 10 for a practical semi- final and five for the final, where contestants have to show their skills fixing faults placed on vehicles by a team of industry experts. As winner, Shaun received the coveted Top Technician trophy as well as an extensive prize package worth £14,000 from sponsors Pico Technology, Pro-Align, Ring Automotive and Snap-on. Shaun also received a training package from competition supporters Auto iQ. Runner-up Matthew Pestridge also received a substantial prize package from the sponsors and training from Auto iQ. Top Garage Cedar Garage was the first ever-winner in the brand new Top Garage competition. Top Garage was launched in 2018 and is designed to enable garages to show what makes them the best in the sector. Garages are be able to receive the same kind of recognition as individual techs have through Top Technician since its foundation in 2002. Cedar Garage’s trophy was received by business co-owners and founders Kevin Pearce and Matthew Copp. The final was extremely tight, with four garages vying for the title. Businesses were gauged on customer service, business planning, tools and garage equipment, parts and training. As well as the trophy, Cedar Garage, which operates from two sites in the West Sussex seaside town also received an extensive prize package, including items from all the sponsors and training from Auto iQ as well as a cash prize from Aftermarket magazine. Commenting on their achievement, Kevin said: “We are ecstatic to have won Top Garage. The whole team have worked their socks off, and it is great that their commitment has been recognised in this way.” Matthew added: “We are so happy to have won. Everyone in the team has the same attitude as us, they want to be the best, and this is a fantastic way to show the work that goes into the business.” Finals The finals for both competitions were held at Auto iQ in Northampton on Saturday 23 June. The winners were announced later that evening at the Top Technician/Top Garage Gala Dinner, which was held at the Brampton Heath Golf Centre. Top Technician 2018 and Top Garage 2018 come to you in association with supporters; ABC Awards, Auto iQ, the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) and the Independent Garage Association (IGA). Top Technician 2018 and Top Garage 2018 are sponsored by Pico Technology, Pro-Align, Ring Automotive and Snap-on. www.aftermarketonline.net 4 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2018 www.aftermarketonline.net Winners announced for Top Technician 2018 and Top Garage