Aftermarket Magazine October 2024

Top Technician and Top Garage 19 www.aftermarketonline.net OCTOBER 2024 Top Tech five head to the final Following the Top Tech semi-final competition in September, judges have now chosen the five contenders who go through to the final later this month. Aftermarket editor John Shepherd looked on as all semi-finalists were put through their paces… The state-of-the-art Delphi Training Centre in Warwickshire hosted the semi-finals of Top Technician last month as contenders were put through their paces. All 10 semi-finalists had to successfully conduct five 20-minute fault-finding tasks on live vehicles and be scored accordingly. The highest scoring five (listed in the panel) now go through to the finals of the competition at our awards evening on Saturday, October 26, at the Double Tree by Hilton in Coventry. My DFA Media Group colleagues Emma Godden-Wood, operations manager, and Hope Jepson, marketing manager, joined me at Delphi for the event — and they were key to supporting our venue hosts, judges and contestants with the smooth running of the event. But of course, a special mention and all credit for the judges. They guided the contestants through the arduous day of testing on September 7 with the utmost skill and professionalism. And in the ‘big reveal’ at the end of the tasks, each of the judges outlined what the contestants should have picked up in a friendly and collegiate manner. What the contestants said… John Hall said he was unsuccessful in reaching the semi-finals of Top Technician last year and was happy to Top Technician finalists: Gary Birse John Fountain Andrew Ruellan David Weston Gordon Wright From left: Bryan Swales, David Weston, Gordon Wright, John Hall

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