September 2021

NEWS Top Technician 2021 semi-finalists announced MONTH 2017 AFTERMARKET 5 www.aftermarketonline.net automotive software d Business m and reporting proce Integrate your sale aftermarke esigned for anagement sses in one easy-to-u nt, s. stock manageme t the se package. accounting 109 226 352 10 .mamsoft.co.uk/a w ww utopart The semi-finalists for Top Technician 2021 have been named. The following mechanics will be competing in the semi-final, which is being held at In Town Automotive in Northampton on 4 September: Rob Albon, Cedar Garage Joe Bedford, QuickScope Diagnostics Adam Cannell, Cedar Garage Jerry Carroll, Arnold Clark John Fountain Sam Gibbons, Eden Vauxhall Richard Lovatt, AA Silencers Simon Parkinson, WDMDL Electrotech Matthew Pestridge, D&D Autos Declan Robinson, Phillips Volkswagen Nigel Spalding, MOT City Kevin Toms, FRL Autoservices Kelvin Tuttle, Jacksons Car Sales Andrew West, Erme Valley Autos David Weston, Snows Kia The list includes 10 who were originally set to compete last year before the event was postponed due to Coronavirus restrictions, along with a further five who qualified for the semi- final this year. Congratulations to all 15 semi-finalists, and thank you to everyone else that has taken part so far. From this group of 15, five finalists will be identified who will compete in the Top Technician final, which is set to take place on Saturday 9 October at In Town Automotive in Northampton. The finals for Top Garage will be held the same day. Following the finals for both events, the Top Technician and Top Garage Awards Evening will be held that night at the Jurys Inn Milton Keynes. Top Technician and Top Garage are sponsored by Snap-on, Varta, TechMan, Motul, Philips and LKQ Euro Car Parts, and come to you in association with ABC Awards, ADS, the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) and the Independent Garage Association (IGA). To find out how one Top Technician semi- finalist spent his summer, turn to pages 22-23. SEPTE BER 20 1 AFTERMARKET 7 VARTA: ‘Joining OESAA was a no-brainer” VARTA has said that the inevitable positive outcome of joining the Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association (OESAA) in 2019 made the decision “a no-brainer.” VARTA Marketing Manager John Rawlins observed: “We’d known OESAA for some time, understood what it meant and what it stood for in terms of championing OE parts, and since VARTA has 70% of market share on start-stop vehicles with an AGM battery, we were well- placed to echo the same message – it was a no-brainer.” VARTA will be exhibiting at Autoinform Live, alongside other OESSA members. The event is taking place at the GTG Training Academy in Wolverhampton from 6 -7 November: “Nearly all hybrids and EVs, as well as a lithium-ion battery, will also contain a lead-acid battery – a lot of people aren’t aware of that, so we’ll be explaining what that means for testing and replacements.” For more from VARTA, turn to pages 26-27 . Sponsored by: Ben’s Big Breakfast Ben is to undertake its first ever Big Breakfast fundraiser in October. The event runs for a week, starting on Monday 4 October and ending on World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10 October. Ben is encouraging automotive people to host a breakfast any day during that week and bring, bake, make and sell breakfast to raise money to support Ben’s work. Those hosting Ben’s Big Breakfast are also be encouraged to raffle a Ben bear to fundraise. Matt Wigginton, Director of Partnerships, Engagement & Income, said: “We hope you’ll join us for a butty and a brew in October to raise much needed funds for Ben.” To find out more go to: https://ben.org.uk/support-us/bens-big- breakfast/ Follow us on Facebook @aftermarketmagazine