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NOVEMBER 2021 AFTERMARKET 35 www.aftermarketonline.net Hunters of Linlithgow, Linlithgow Jackson & Phillips Automotive Services, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire MOT City, Winnersh, Berkshire Premier Group Garages, Hednesford, Staffordshire QCD Autocentre, Milton Keynes Ruellans Garage, St Helier, Jersey Shaikly Motor Company, Colchester, Essex Star Tech, Poole, Dorset Uckfield Motor Services, Uckfield, East Sussex To get to the prize in their group, garages needed to run the gauntlet of the judges. This year, they included Richard Armstrong from Philips/Lumileds, Regular Top Technician judge Glenn Cutter, Kimberly Dorr from In Town Automotive, and Motul’s Any Wait. During each half 35-minute session, the various owners, managers and team members had to deliver a three-minute presentation on their business, as well as answer questions on a wide range of areas around their business. This included customer care, marketing, business planning and more. Some went in alone, others took a colleague or business partner with them. Improvement It is the garages that count, and we asked Kevin Pearce from Cedar Garage how they felt about taking part again, just before he and co- owner Matthew Copp faced the judges. “We are confident,” he replied. They were overall winners in 2018, and the champs in the businesses with 11-plus staff category in 2019. He continued: “We are still constantly improving, and pushing the boundaries. Hopefully, if we can keep improving, we will be in with a chance.” Also in the larger business group last time was A1 Autocentre, owned by Ben Thompson. He was back, and actually taking part twice as his other garage, Ockenden Test Centre, was also in the running for 2021 in the 4- 6 category. We asked him how he was finding it: “Last time I was disappointed not to win, but I went away to see what things we can do to make it better this year, and be in with more of a chance of winning, take a look to see what other people are doing and go away and make it our own. The pandemic has made everything harder, and it is just now getting back to normal. We lost a year and we are now finding our feet again.” Back for 2021, and in a new role was 2018 Top Technician champion Shaun Ferguson Miller, co-owner with his wife Nakita of Fergies German Vehicle Specialists. We wondered how it felt to be on the Top Garage side of things: “I’ve not injured myself yet,” he replied, referring to the Top Technician final in 2018 where he managed to cut himself with an exploding headlamp bulb, and still win, “and I’m not planning to. It’s nice to have someone with me, we can share it and we can talk about it, whereas in Top Technician it is all on you.” Robert Mangano from E&M MOT Services said: “It’s good to get some recognition for what you do, and I am passionate about what I do. Cars are difficult, so when you fix something you are really pleased. Running a business is a different story, as there are customers involved. Dealing with customers, dealing with faults, and getting the end result. I won’t say it is easy, but it is rewarding, particularly when a car has been two seven or eight garages before yours.” Previous small-group garage winner Declan McCormack of Declan McCormack Vehicle Repairs was back again. We asked him what winning in 2019 had meant to him: “It certainly has changed since we won it in 2019, and it has changed me as a person I think.” We wondered how he rated his chances for 2021: “I have absolutely no idea,” he laughed. Most people were having a good start to their day, apart from Mark Gorringe from Steadman’s Garage in Worthing, who turned up having broken down outside. We asked him if he thought this boded well for his chances? “Why not?” He joked, “it takes the edge off a little bit, as you have something else to worry about. It is our first time competing, and it has been good. It changes the way you look at the business, you look at it from a higher level than you would normally. It complements the training I have done in the past, thereby reaffirming that as well.” It turned out to be number four injector, and after borrowing some tools, and the swift intervention of an LKQ Euro Car Parts van to deliver the part, he was back on the road and ready for the competition too. Someone having a slightly less stressful day was James Hopcraft from West Midlands-based Hallcraft. We asked him about his experience: “It’s great. This is our second time, and I always enjoy taking part. Without a doubt we have learned from the process already. There is so much industry knowledge that everybody is happy to share.” Andrew Ruellan, from Jersey-based Ruellans Garage summed up the mood of those back after a long wait: “It’s great to be back again. There are some familiar faces and some new faces. Doing it has been valuable, especially with what has happened with the pandemic. It might have helped people with their planning and their strategies, which in turn helped them through this. It certainly did for