Editor’s comment 3 www.aftermarketonline.net JUNE 2024 Editor John Shepherd john@aftermarket.co.uk +44 (0) 1732 370 345 Head of Sales Angela Lyus angela@aftermarket.co.uk +44 (0) 7823 736 629 Managing Director Ryan Fuller ryan.fuller@dfamedia.co.uk Operations Manager Emma Godden-Wood emma.godden-wood@dfamedia.co.uk Marketing Manager Hope Jepson hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk Production Design Anthony Wiffen anton_print_1@mac.com +44 (0) 7851 612799 Finance Department accounts@dfamedia.co.uk +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Contributors David Banks Martin Brown David Eszenyi Peter Lawton Published by DFA Media Group 192 High Street Tonbridge Kent TN9 1BE +44 (0)1732 370340 ISSN 2516-9149 Aftermarket is published 10 times a year and is sent free of charge to applicants meeting the publisher’s criteria. All others may subscribe at £60 per anum, £120 Europe and £150 rest of the world. While every care is taken to provide accurate information, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or ommisions, no matter how caused. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent of the publisher. The views of contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Copyright: DFA Aftermarket Media Ltd 2024. Average net circulation July 2023 to June 2024 21,945 Championing investment in skills and expertise The American businessman, investor, and philanthropist Warren Buffet is credited with saying that ‘the most important investment you can make is in yourself, your skills, and your knowledge’. That quote came to mind while I was at last month’s awards night, marking the culmination of our annual Top Technician and Top Garage competitions. All of the contenders have so much to be proud of and it was fantastic to see their hard work and skills honoured and celebrated by their peers. We have a full roundup of this amazing event starting on page 24 of this issue, but I cannot let this opportunity pass to praise all involved – not least the event partners whose support was key to making the finale of the competitions an unmissable event. At a time when we are all infinitely aware of challenges our sector faces it is clear that the skills gap is one of the most pressing issues to be addressed. As we report elsewhere in this issue, business leaders within the automotive aftermarket have already called on the new government to help breathe new life into the sector, including a proposal for tax cuts on training and other business investments. But there is plenty of cause for optimism in the garage business too, despite the difficult economic circumstances. I know from the news we report and those we interview for Aftermarket — here in the magazine and online — that there is still a great deal of business activity out there. There are motor factors building new facilities and expanding existing sites. We have also seen acquisitions in the automotive industry that will benefit the aftermarket and wider parts supply chain Meanwhile, more bodyshops are understanding the importance of becoming ADAS-capable. While others have some catching up to do, there is training and ongoing support available for independent garages to reap the rewards of technical advances in motoring. And while there is still some reticence among the motoring public to fully embrace electric vehicles, that will change as vehicle costs tumble, advanced battery technologies remove fears of range anxiety and charging infrastructure improvements. That in turn will spur garages to ensure they become EV-equipped, not least to retain existing customers tempted to switch to electric from ICE vehicles. Training and learning new skills on the part of workshops will be key for that transition too. When it comes to staffing up for all these opportunities garages should also be prepared to look beyond the automotive aftermarket to see whether there are candidates who can better fill skills gaps. According to one recent survey, some 40% of candidates for aftermarket jobs in the southwest of England came from allied business sectors, demonstrating an ongoing trend toward skillsbased talent acquisition as opposed to recruiting purely for aftermarket expertise. You can read all about that and much more in the following pages. Enjoy the issue! John Shepherd Editor
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