Editor’s comment 3 www.aftermarketonline.net SEPTEMBER 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 | Bill Fennell Neil Fryer | Emma Lindley 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 New industry era on horizon as SERMI looms There’s finally light at the end of the tunnel on the Security-related Repair and Maintenance Information (SERMI) scheme, with the UK launch set for later this year, as we report in this issue’s news pages. The Independent Garage Association says it has secured the UK launch of SERMI in a landmark step toward accreditation. As this magazine reported more than a year ago, SERMI was launched in October 2023 — with Sweden being the first country to implement the scheme — and it will change the way garages access security related repair and maintenance information. The IGA now says it has set up the scheme on a not-for-profit basis, which promises to level the playing field for independent operators across the nation. Some of the technicians and garages that will soon be getting to grips with SERMI will have a more immediate challenge to test their knowhow and expertise in this month’s semi-finals of the industry-leading Top Awards. The top 10 scorers from a series of online assessments will be at the semi-finals hosted by the Delphi Academy in Warwick on October 4. There, they will face a series of timed, live diagnostic challenges set by expert judges. Some of those judges join competition sponsors in explaining their reasons for supporting the Top Awards in our special four-page semifinals preview, starting on page 16. The preview also marks the official build-up to what will be a fantastic finals event on November 15, which will put the spotlight on the crème de la crème of the automotive industry. Later that day, our worthy Top Awards winners will be revealed at a glittering celebration and gala dinner at the Double Tree by Hilton Coventry. There is still time to join your industry peers for the awards presentation and gala dinner. For details, see our preview on page 16. Away from the hands-on expertise of the workshop technicians, this issue continues to stress the importance of the aftermarket’s amazing and talented front-of-house teams. Emma Lindley, of Lindley’s Autocentres, talks about the importance of these teams to garages in a podcast for The Blend — a summary of which we highlight in this edition’s business pages. Plus, we have our regular roundup of news from across the industry and our comprehensive products and services features, which this month covers a wide range of sectors including diagnostics, ADAS systems, motor factors, and we showcase items to help workshops help motorists get ready for winter. Enjoy the issue! John Shepherd Editor
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