Editor’s comment 3 www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2025 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 Marketing Manager Hope Jepson hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk Production Design Anthony Wiffen production@aftermarket.co.uk +44 (0) 7851 612799 Finance Department accounts@dfamedia.co.uk +44 (0) 1732 370 340 Contributors Martin Brown | Julie Hayes Joe Phelan | Glen Shepherd 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 2025. Average net circulation July 2023 to June 2024 21,945 Challenging perceptions and driving innovation Shortly before I passed my driving test, nearly a half-century ago, I remember already dreaming about having a new car. A corner garage near my grandparents’ home had the latest shiny Škodas in the showroom. They were cheap in comparison to other cars of the day and I knew, once I’d got a steady job, I’d be able to afford one (albeit on finance). My grandad, then a manager with Colmore Depot in the Midlands, was dead set against the idea. He wanted me to have my own wheels, sure, but a “proper” car. not “something like that”. He did not survive to see the brand snapped up years later by the prestigious VW group! But way back then, I recall his expression when my nan, whose only concern about cars was that there was enough leg room for her on long journeys, pointed out he had been watching Škodas in a motorsports championship on TV. Surely, “if they can do all that they should be good enough for ‘normal’ roads”. As was often the case, my grandad discreetly ignored that apparent outburst of logic with inaudible mutterings. Working in the car business, he always had a company car and not long after, I was allowed to put my magnetic ‘L’ plates on one of the first iterations of a Fiat Strada and drive with him alongside. Anyone remember the Strada advert? The car ‘hand-built by robots’. Probably one of the best such ads ever – accompanied by the sound of Figaro’s Aria from Rossini’s Barber of Seville. Once I passed my test, it was grandad who ensured I went on the road in another “proper” car: a Fiat 128. So what am I getting at with this drive down memory lane? I’m thinking about perceptions and ambition, and this is relevant to our industry today. An article on page 10 of this issue rightly points out that the sector is “more than spanners and spark plugs”. There is a concerted effort by specialist recruiter teams and business leaders to champion the wide range of careers available across the aftermarket. Data from the SMMT endorses this. The automotive industry powers 813,000 jobs across the UK, with a turnover of £93 billion and the industry represents 12% of all exported goods. It’s right to challenge out-dated perceptions of our industry and to champion innovation and ambition across independent garages and beyond as we power into summer. There is a great opportunity to do so at this month’s Automechanika show at the NEC in Birmingham (more about that on page 8). The Aftermarket magazine team is doing its bit and has welcomed a surge of interest in the newly launched Top Apprentice competition. So much so, we’ve extended the deadline to allow more time for entries to be completed for that and sister contest, Top Garage, until the end of this month. Find out more on pages 16-17. Enjoy the issue! John Shepherd Editor
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