The Independent Garage Association hosted its annual British Independent Garage (BIG) Awards, with the event proving to be the biggest yet for the industry body.
Held at the Held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Friday 12 September, the BIG Awards welcomed over 500 attendees, the largest audience to date, making it the biggest night yet for the independent garage community.
With comedian and impressionist Jon Culshaw as host, the evening was filled with energy, humour, and inspiration, setting the perfect stage to recognise the very best in the industry. Key stakeholders, leading suppliers, and industry decision-makers were all in attendance, creating a truly unparalleled night of networking, recognition, and celebration.
“This year’s BIG Awards has been our most successful event to date, a sold-out room of over 500 people, a showcase of incredible talent, and a powerful reminder of the strength and unity within our sector,” commented Stuart James, CEO of the IGA.
“The winners and finalists are raising the bar for excellence and the announcements we shared tonight underline our dedication to building an even brighter future for independent garages across the UK. It was a truly unforgettable evening.”
BIG Awards 2025 winners
With 17 categories, a range of talent from across the independent garage sector was celebrated at the BIG Awards 2025.
Key winners included SF Tebby & Son, who took home the Eco Garage of the Year award. Meanwhile, EV Repairer of the Year went to DB Car Doctor Ltd.
The Consumer Choice Award, voted for by customers, was won by SML Motorsport. The Customer Service Award went to Monmouth MOT, while Best Newcomer was taken by LDR Auto Car Care.
Meanwhile, the Small Independent Garage of the Year winner was BTN Automotive, while the Large Independent Garage of the Year Award was won by German Autocentre. Taking the overall title, of British Independent Garage of the Year, was The MINI Repair Shop.
At the end of the evening, James presented automotive industry charity Ben with a cheque for £10,000, helping them to support automotive employes and their families.
You can find a full list of winners from the BIG Awards 2025 by clicking here.
Editors thoughts
The atmosphere at the BIG Awards 2025 was fantastic, and it was great to see workshops, suppliers and more enjoying the evening, networking, sharing ideas and discussing the current goings on in the automotive aftermarket.
Awards events such as these reinforce the passion and success of the independent sector, which will become more relied upon in the coming years, especially as buying habits in new and used vehicle markets change. It was encouraging to see younger talent, new businesses and the next generation of technicians and garage owners celebrated.
