November 2019

NOVEMBER 2019 AFTERMARKET 5 www.aftermarketonline.net Mark Ost with the two crystal bowls presented to the company for winning two Queen's Awards for Enterprise in 2019 Top Garage 2020 has begun. The competition began its run on 1 November. Following last year’s amazing run, thousands of businesses are expected to take part again in 2020. Those who go through the various rounds will face a number of online tasks, which culminate in a live final on Saturday 20 June 2020. Top Garage 2020 will again be running a number of business categories: Businesses with 1-5 staff Businesses with 6-10 staff Businesses with 11-plus staff Taking part in Top Garage is brilliant for businesses. It enables you to work with some of the best minds in the sector who are the judges in the competition. It also gives you the chance to win some brilliant prizes, and puts you on a national stage too. If you enter, it could be you receiving an award, and the applause of the best in the industry at the Top Technician and Top Garage Awards Evening 2020 on Saturday 20 June next year. To enter your business, go to www.toptechnicianonline.co.uk and click on the “enter here” tab. Then follow the instructions, using use the Top Garage voucher code: tg-20-rd1 Top Technician 2020 and Top Garage 2020 are sponsored by Snap-on, TechMan and VARTA. They come to you in association with ABC Awards, Auto iQ, the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) and the Independent Garage Association (IGA). For more information on Top Technician and Top Garage 2020 turn to page 34. Snap-on presented with Queen’s Awards Snap-on recently saw the official presentation of its Queens Awards. The company won the awards in the Innovation and International Trade categories. While the announcement was made in April, last month, Lady Phillipa Dannatt, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk travelled to the company’s Kings Lynn base to make the official presentation. Making the presentation of the two crystal bowls to Mark Ost, General Manager for Diagnostics and Equipment at Snap-on, Lady Dannatt said: “The handing over of industry awards on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen is one of the more delightful duties that Lord Lieutenants undertake. It is an absolute pleasure to be here today to celebrate Snap-on's double success. “I am joined here by the Deputy Lieutenants of Norfolk. On the Queen's 93rd birthday, 201 businesses were announced as the 2019 Queens Award for Enterprise winners. Only six businesses were successful in two categories, with Snap-on I am delighted to say winning for the International Trade and Innovation categories.” Mark Ost said: “This is an extremely special day for Snap- on, of that there is no doubt.” For a full report on Snap-on receiving its pair of Queen’s Awards, turn to page 22. Sponsored by: Top Garage 2020 launches MOT testing stations buying a roller brake tester must now make sure it is a model that can connect to the MOT testing service, the DVSA has reminded garages. Since 1 October, it has been a requirement for roller brake testers to have connectivity, as part of an ongoing process of modernising the test. This includes buying replacement equipment, and as part of the process of getting authorisation to carry out MOTs at a test station. DVSA has worked with roller brake tester manufacturers to develop software that will allow their products to connect to the MOT testing service. Chris Price, DVSA Head of MOT Policy said: “DVSA’s priority is to help everyone keep their vehicle safe to drive. We’ve brought connected equipment in to modernise testing in MOT garages and reduce the potential for mistakes. It will make testing quicker, more accurate and give motorists greater confidence in the quality of testing. Garages already using this equipment have seen benefits to their business.” DVSA is also working with manufacturers to develop diesel smoke meters, exhaust gas analysers and decelerometers that connect to the MOT testing service. There are plans to make connectable models of these kinds of equipment mandatory for replacement equipment and new garages too. The GEA is working with the DVSA to agree the standards for connected equipment and approve models for use in MOT garages. For more information garages should contact MOT@dvsa.gov.uk Rules for connected MOT equipment change