News 7 Entries are now officially open for The Blend Awards 2026. The winners will be announced during the evening awards ceremony on Saturday, 10 October 2026, at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham, hosted by behavioural science and marketing expert Rory Sutherland. Taking place as part of The Blend 2026, the awards celebrate businesses and individuals who go beyond day-today operations to raise standards, strengthen their teams, and deliver consistently high levels of service. From operational improvements to customer experience innovation, the awards aim to recognise real-world impact across workshops of every size. Entries can be submitted at www.theblend.events/ awards2026 and the deadline is 23:59 on Tuesday, 4 August. Finalists will be announced on 11 September, with winners to be named at The Blend on 10 October. Entries open for The Blend Awards 2026 ADAS calibrations increase by more than a quarter in just 12 months Auto Windscreens has reported a 30% increase in the number of ADAS calibrations it carried out as part of its windscreen replacement work over the last 12 months. While this growth partly reflects an overall 7% increase in windscreen repairs and replacements across the business, it has also shared that more than 40% of its front windscreen replacement jobs now include an ADAS calibration. Claire Church, Director of Service Delivery at Auto Windscreens commented: “The influx of new models with the latest technology, especially from China, has helped to drive the ADAS market to new heights. “The ADAS market is likely to just keep on growing – new cars sold in the EU and Northern Ireland must be equipped with specific ADAS as standard. Although this isn’t yet mandatory in the UK, many vehicles on the road now include at least one ADAS feature. It’s more important than ever that we work hard to raise awareness among drivers and the industry of the importance of proper calibration – undertaken at the right time and under the right conditions.” Fleet Guy has hosted an event which brought together senior leaders from across the UK fleet sector to explore the future of fleet service, maintenance and repair and to put a focus on the importance of strengthening collaboration between fleet operators and the independent aftermarket. Tim Guidotti, Founder of Fleet Guy, said: “It was a key milestone for us to get as many of the UK’s top 50 contract hire and leasing companies as possible in the room. Together, they look after 3.5 million vehicles in the UK, so their input is critical to evolving the partnerships between independent garages and fleet companies.” Fleet Guy also used the event to share early details of the upcoming Fleet Guy Audit Hub – a new compliance platform designed to give garages a single place to report their compliance status and to give fleet companies confidence when selecting independent workshops for SMR work. There was agreement at the event that closer partnership is needed and that the Audit Hub will help to achieve this. For peace of mind always use a Garage Equipment Association member. GEA accredited engineers work to an industry code of conduct. Your assurance their skills and knowledge have been independently assessed. IS YOUR EQUIPMENT ENGINEER GEA ACCREDITED? Ask your engineer for his accreditation card ! The Upholders of Industry standards since 1945 The Garage Equipment Association www.gea.co.uk GEA ACCREDITED ENGINEER Name Company Discipline Exp Date ID Number XX123456 XX123456 XX123456 XX123456 XX123456 /HDGLQJ ᎯHHW companies join industry engagement opportunity
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