Top Awards review 23 www.aftermarketonline.net DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026 Garratt said: “Helping workshops see where they excel and where they can improve is vital for raising standards and pushing the industry forward, which makes hosting and judging this competition so rewarding for Delphi. “It was an honour to host such a worldclass event and witness the future of the industry in action.” Meanwhile, Top Technician and Top Apprentice finalists tackled practical, timed tasks in the academy’s workshops, testing technical knowledge, diagnostic skills, and problem-solving ability under pressure. David Guilfoyle, technical trainer at the academy, returned as a judge for Top Technician. At the academy, finalists worked in fully equipped workshops in one wing, while a neighbouring workshop hosted sponsor exhibitions and technical talks. Spanning more than 9,000 ft2, the academy houses more than 15 modern vehicles, including a Tesla Model S, BMW 3 Series plug-in hybrid, and the hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai, many of which were used for practical challenges and on display for visitors. Supporting the independents Garage Hive played a leading role in supporting the awards, with its operations manager, Dawn Metcalfe, serving as judge in the 4-6 employees Top Garage category. She assessed finalists on leadership, operational excellence, and customer service. Metcalfe said: “The level of skill, organisation, and professionalism on display was inspiring, and it was fantastic to see finalists supporting one another throughout the day.” Four of the seven garage winners were Garage Hive users. Ray Dilsons, MD at Garage Hive, said: “The Top Awards perfectly align with our mission to champion independent garages and the people behind them. Seeing so many workshops using Garage Hive recognised at this level is a proud moment for us.” Ben Workplace Health & Wellbeing Award winner D&D Autos Ashford Ltd: Kimberley Pestridge, Ellen Plumer and Lorraine Fuller Top Apprentice winner Cian Griffiths (centre) with Ashley Craig (left) and Andrew Castle 7-9 Employees category winner Lawson AutoTech. Foreground Mike Schlup, Barry Lawson and Laura Guild
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