June 2020

NEWS 4 AFTERMARKET JUNE 2020 www.aftermarketonline.net Garages can keep staff on furlough until October now with the scheme having received a four-month extension, although added flexibility will also mean companies will be able to bring their staff back in part-time. Announcing the extension, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak confirmed workers would keep getting 80% of their monthly wages, up to £2,500. However, he also said employers will be expected to pay a portion of the cost from August. The move has been supported by industry. “We welcome the Chancellor’s update and extension to the furlough scheme, which will allow businesses to bring staff back to work on a part-time basis.” said IGA Chief Executive Stuart James. The IGA wrote to the Chancellor on 29 April requesting greater flexibility in the furlough scheme in order to allow employees to return to work part-time to support businesses as they look to re-open or ramp back up to full strength. Stuart continued: “We thank the Chancellor for listening to the IGA’s proposal to implement a flexible furlough scheme. As highlighted in our letter, many independent garages have suspended activity since the Coronavirus crisis escalated due to the decrease in work volumes caused by lockdown restrictions and the MOT extension.” He added: “This support from the government will help independent garages with a gradual, stable approach when reopening.” This is the second time the scheme has been extended. It was originally scheduled to run until the end of May, but the cut-off was then moved to the end of June. It will now run until the end of October, tapering off as it goes. Furlough gets four-month extension Top Technician semi-finalists named The semi-finalists for Top Technician 2020 have been announced. The following technicians will be competing in the semi-final: Rob Albon, Cedar Garage, Worthing Jerry Carroll, Arnold Clark, Glasgow John Fountain, Scunthorpe Sam Gibbons, Bournemouth Edward Grigg, Swanley Garage Services, Swanley Simon Parkinson, WDMDL Electrotech, Greater Manchester Matthew Pestridge, D&D Autos, Ashford Declan Robinson, Phillips Volkswagen, Lisburn Nigel Spalding, MOT City, Wokingham David Weston, Snows Kia, Guildford Congratulations to all 10 semi-finalists, and thank you to everyone else that has taken part so far. Due to the ongoing Coronavirus situation, the original date for the semi-final was moved, and the new date will be announced soon. From this group of 10, five finalists will be identified who will compete in the Top Technician final, which is set to take place on Saturday 17 October 2020 at In Town Automotive in Northampton. The finals for Top Garage 2020 will be held the same day. Following the finals for both events, the Top Technician and Top Garage Awards Evening 2020 will be held that night at the Jurys Inn Milton Keynes. Top Technician 2020 and Top Garage 2020 are sponsored by Snap-on, VARTA, TechMan and Euro Car Parts. They come to you in association with ABC Awards, 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 22.