The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) is partnering with Automechamika Birmingham to host the first ever IAAF Garage Awards.
The plans were revealed at the recent IAAF Conference and Awards, and organisers of Automechanika Birmingham hope that the IAAF Garage Awards will help the trade show continue its efforts to recognise garages throughout the event in June.
There will be numerous award categories, celebrating the very best of the garage industry, with these categories and the nomination process set to be revealed shortly, along with the location and various sponsorship opportunities.
The IAAF Garage Awards will take place on the evening of 7th June 2023, as part of Automechanika Birmingham, which runs from 6th to 8th June 2023.
“We were keen to ensure we have a platform to continue the recognition of garages into the evening, and IAAF offered the perfect opportunity to do this with the Federation’s new garage membership offering,” commented Simon Albert, managing director of event organiser Messe Frankfurt UK.
“This allows us to not only provide value to vehicle technicians through informative insight that will be provided from exhibitors and the form of the many training initiatives available throughout the course of the show, but also by celebrating the hard work and commitment that they bring to the aftermarket, day in, day out.”
IAAF Garage Awards just part of industry recognition plans
The IAAF is working hard to ensure independent garages have a voice when it comes to various regulations that affect the industry. The body is fighting for the rights of the entire aftermarket supply chain to access vehicle repair information to ensure they’re on a level playing field with vehicle manufacturers, and the federation proactively lobbies the Government to ensure this can happen.
IAAF membership is now available to independent garages, with the federation campaigning on behalf of garages to ensure they receive access to vehicle manufacturer data, and ensuring their voice is heard on Block Exemption Regulations (BER) and Type Approval legislation, as well as fighting proposed changes to the frequency of the MOT.
The body is also developing its new training academy and each garage member will be promoted to motorists on the Right 2 Repair campaign website.
Garages will also receive support on recruitment, HR, legal advice and insurance. The IAAF Garage Awards are another example of the body’s plans to support and recognise independent repair businesses.
Mark Field, IAAF chief executive, said: “It is great to be partnering with Automechanika Birmingham, as we actively recruit more garage members. We have seen more demand from garages who would benefit from IAAF representation, and we are now in a position where the federation can step up and offer a service to these garages.
“The IAAF represents the largest number of motor factors and suppliers in the automotive aftermarket. To strengthen the federation’s lobbying power, it makes sense to add more garages into our membership and to bring the supply chain closer together, as we predominantly look to work more closely with the independent aftermarket as a whole, as well as universities and colleges.
“This new avenue is really ambitious for us, but it is certainly a step in the right direction in bridging the gap between garages and the rest of the supply chain, offering much-needed support and training.”
More information on the IAAF Garage Awards will be announced in due course. To find out more about Automechanika Birmingham 2023, click here.
