News 6 www.aftermarketonline.net APRIL 2026 Garage owners urged to step outside the workshop Barry Lawson of Lawson Autotech, winner of the 2025 Top Garage award in the 7-9 employee category, has featured on The Blend’s latest podcast to encourage independent garage owners who are too busy to attend industry events to rethink their approach to business. During the podcast, Barry reflects on the early years of running his garage in near-total isolation and explains why connecting with the wider industry proved to be a turning point. “We were just speaking to garages within a two, three, four-mile radius, and they were all doing the same thing,” said Barry. “The biggest thing was listening to everybody struggling on the same things, and we thought if everybody else is struggling, well, it must be normal”. Barry challenges the common excuses owners make for missing events, from working weekends to family commitments and stresses that sacrificing just one weekend to attend an industry event can yield invaluable golden nuggets of advice from peers who have already overcome the exact problems causing workshop bottlenecks. The reward for that time, Barry explains, is getting your life back. By learning from other owners, he was able to implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for everything from servicing to emptying the bins, creating a self-sufficient business that no longer relies on him. The Blend podcast is available on all major podcast platforms. Alongside the 115th International Women’s Day on 8 March 2026, the Top Awards has called on women in the aftermarket trade to step into the spotlight and gain well-deserved recognition for their talent and expertise. With entries for the 2026 programme now fully open, the prestigious Top Awards competition is actively encouraging women in the industry to compete for the Top Technician, Top Garage, Top Apprentice, and Service Advisor Awards, and the BEN Workplace Health & Wellbeing Award. Garages have long been maledominated, but the landscape is changing. However, organisers have reported that many women hesitate to enter because of “imposter syndrome.” The Top Awards aims to help break that barrier. “The competition isn’t just about winning,” said Hope Jepson, Marketing Manager at the Top Awards. “It’s a free health check for your skills, your business, and your confidence. We want entrants to see where they stand, celebrate their strengths, and find areas to improve.” Katie Bowes, a previous Top Apprentice finalist, knows that struggle well: “I sometimes doubted myself,” she admitted. “But competing reassured me. It proved I could do it. It changes how you see your role in the workshop, and how others see you too.” National recognition isn’t just about technical skills. Katie said taking part redefines traditional perceptions: “The title ‘apprentice’ often comes with the expectation of sweeping floors or making tea. Competing shows you’re capable of so much more.” The 2026 Top Awards offer an accessible starting point for everyone. Technicians and apprentices begin with a 15-question online multiple-choice test, while garage owners and service advisors complete an in-depth online questionnaire. Those who progress face increasingly demanding assessments, culminating in the Delphi Academy finals in November. Entries for Top Technician, Top Garage and Top Apprentice close on 15 May 2026. Entries can be submitted online at: aftermarketonline.net/competition. It’s time to step into the spotlight: Women urged to enter the 2026 Top Awards Top Awards news
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