The UK’s best-performing Castrol Service workshops have been recognised at the first-ever Castrol national conference, held at the Celtic Manor in Newport, Wales.
The inaugural Castrol Service Forever Forward Awards put a spotlight on the achievements of independent workshops within the growing Castrol Service network, which now includes over 270 businesses based in the UK and Ireland.
The awards were split into five categories, and the judging panel comprised senior managers at Castrol, as well as representatives from Certas and Certa, Castrol’s distributor partners in the UK and Ireland.
Winners at the Castrol Service Awards
Eden Tyres and Servicing, which operates 24 workshops throughout the East Midlands, triumphed in the Castrol Service ‘Strong Social Media Award’, recognising the business that uses digital platforms to build a customer following and drive growth.
Eden has an active presence on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn, and shares engaging and informative content that resonates with both customers and automotive enthusiasts. It regularly shares vehicle maintenance tips, offers insights into the latest automotive technologies, and helps educate customers about servicing and why it is essential for vehicle safety and longevity.
The ‘Building Community Award’, which recognises workshops in the Castrol Service network that run campaigns aimed at building a community of customers, was won by Nottingham-based Lindleys Autocentres. The business sponsors local teams, such as the Keyworth United Predators U13’s girls’ football team, and supports local talent including 10-year-old go-kart racer Luke Milward.
These partnerships strengthen Lindleys’ ties with the community, aligning its values of teamwork and support with Castrol’s own brand ethos. By combining a strong online presence with personal connections in their local area, Lindleys Autocentres has created a thriving community of loyal customers, with online bookings growing by over 1,500, year-on-year.
R S Autotechnik, a German vehicle specialist based in Dursley, Gloucestershire, took home the ‘Extra Mile Customer Experience Award’, created to recognise Castrol Service workshops that raise their service levels through the actions of highly trained members of staff. Conference-goers heard a series of stories that highlighted how R S Autotechnik regularly demonstrated an extra level of care and compassion for customers.
The ‘Castrol Spirit Award’ was won by Sophie Redden at Priorslee Motor Services in Telford. Sophie was nominated for embracing the spirit of the Castrol brand and putting Castrol’s vision and values at the heart of the workshop. Sophie’s enthusiasm for engine care, particularly with Castrol products, showed in her commitment to helping others understand the critical role that high-quality oils play in vehicle performance, efficiency, and sustainability.
Oldfields Garage Services in Leominster were crowned the winners of the headline ‘Garage of the Year Award’. With a focus on providing the best customer service through continuous training, and having received national recognition amongst multiple publications and trade bodies, Oldfields’ has achieved a five-star Google review and a 12-month average customer service score of 96 from over 650 survey returns. These results demonstrate Oldfields’ strong commitment to raising the standards in the industry.
Future strategy
As well as hosting the Forever Forward Awards, Castrol used the Conference to outline its future strategy and explain its latest offers. Attendees were able to join practical sessions covering a range of useful themes, including digital marketing, with Maisie Raine from the Race Group and Harry Laflin from Bray Leino debunking myths and showcasing tools available to workshops to help maximise their digital presence.
A separate session engaged workshops on how best to manage new revenue streams via car valeting with partner, Autoglym.
Key exhibitors included Garage Hive, SAMOA Workshop Equipment, and many more, with representatives on hand to offer advice and support.
“We have had some fantastic feedback from participants, who clearly appreciated the opportunity to network, celebrate best practise among their peers, and learn more about our strategy in the independent workshop sector,” commented Zoe Rogers, Country Activation Specialist at Castrol.
“It was particularly enjoyable to recognise those businesses that have gone above and beyond with our inaugural awards. We are already planning the next event.”
