News 8 November 2026 ǁǁǁ͘ ĂŌĞƌŵĂƌŬĞƚŽŶůŝŶĞ͘ ŶĞƚ BookMyGarage has updated its Tier Programme to take greater account of local market conditions when assessing garage performance. Launched in February 2024 for garages using the company’s Accelerate package, the programme recognises businesses based on measures including customer satisfaction, reliability, booking performance and customer service. BookMyGarage said one in four garages on Accelerate has achieved Tier status, with Tier garages receiving around 2.8 times more bookings than non-tiered garages. Following analysis of more than two years of marketplace and consumer data, the company has now revised the programme so garages are assessed in the context of local competition rather than relying solely on national benchmarks. Jessica Ruddick, Chief Marketing Officer at BookMyGarage, said: “As our marketplace data has become increasingly sophisticated, it became clear that measuring garages against national benchmarks alone did not always reflect the realities of local markets. “Our new approach ensures the opportunity to achieve our Tier status is assessed in the context of local competition, creating a fairer and more relevant system while maintaining the standards that customers expect.” BookMyGarage said its platform generated £158 million of work for garage partners over the past year, while bookings increased by 41%. Garages using Accelerate achieved an average 820% return on investment between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, with an average final invoice value of £297. 4XLFN Ꭾ[HVଉ GSF Car Parts has opened its 218th branch, this time in the Hampshire town of Ringwood… … and the company has updated its visual identity, adding the ‘Do Yourself Proud’ strapline to its established logo. OSRAM has entered the battery market with the introduction of a range of 3V lithium button cell batteries. Alliance Automotive Group (AAG) and NAPA Auto Parts UK & Ireland have confirmed their joint sponsorship of the 2026 IAAF Annual Conference and Awards Dinner… … meanwhile, The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has announced that Allianz is once again the headline sponsor of the British Independent Garage Awards for 2027. Arnott Suspension Products’ complete online training programme is now available in eight languages. Duckhams is partnering with the Sim To Reality motorsports challenge to help raise over £20,000 for a suicide prevention charity. Klipboard has celebrated its 50th anniversary, five decades after it was founded in 1976 as Kerridge Computer Company. The Blend raised almost £19,000 for the industry charity, Ben, at is annual conference and awards on October 10. More than 15 independent garages working with Garage Services Online have been shortlisted for the Top Awards 2026 ,QGHSHQGHQW JDUDJHV WDNH WKH KRQRXUV DW 7KH %OHQG $ZDUGV 2026 Following a packed day of learning, discussion and networking at the annual Blend conference in Birmingham on 10 October, some of the UK’s best independent garages and the people behind them were celebrated at The Blend Awards 2026. Intelligent Auto picked up Garage of the Year (1–4 Staff), with Carmaster Garage winning the 5+ Staff category and Castle Garage (Ashby) taking the Multi-location title. Salipa Mwelwa of VMB Autocentres (pictured, centre) won the Staff Recognition Award, while The MINI Repair Shop and Elite Landrover shared the Community’s Garage of the Year award. Andrii Stetsovskyi of Nexa Max Garages was named Community Member of the Year, while Tim Benson of Oldfields Garage picked up the Innovators Award for his work with AI and workshop processes. A special Industry Impact Award went to Sarah Tribe of automotive charity Ben for her work supporting mental health and wellbeing across the sector. The event brought together more than 550 delegates and raised an impressive £18,825 for Ben. The Blend returns on 18 September 2027 at Manchester Central %RRN0\*DUDJH XSGDWHV 7LHU 3URJUDPPH ZLWK ORFDO PDUNHW IRFXV
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