Don’t miss out – bodyshop Live! awards
The deadline is fast approaching for you to submit your candidates for the bodyshop Live! 2020 awards and 30 under 30: rising stars initiative, so don’t delay.
We have already received hundreds of contestants for both sets of awards – more than ever before – but we still have room for more. So before the 31 March 2020 cut-off date, please submit your favourite candidate or business using our online bodyshop Live! 2020 nomination form or 30 under 30:rising stars nomination form at bodyshopmag.com.
Among the categories for which you can nominate yourself or put forward a colleague, peer or business, are paint, panel and MET technicians and apprentices, customer and claims service, technology and innovation, VDA, vehicle manufacturer and educator, plus bodyshops of all types and sizes.
And don’t forget to send in your nominees for bodyshop magazine’s 30 under 30: rising stars in partnership with 3M – the awards initiative which recognises and rewards the brightest young achievers in collision repair.
To qualify for 30 under 30: rising stars, candidates must be 30 years old or younger and must work within the collision repair industry, though they can come from any sector and hold any position – including technicians and assessors, parts and supply chain, HR and recruitment, claims and insurance, administration and management, and more.
Two of the key classifications this year are the ever-popular Powered by Vizion – bodyshop Remit Technician and Apprentice Awards, which are each broken down into paint, panel and MET categories.
This year’s practical assessments for the technician and apprentice awards will take place at the Remit Group facility in Derby from 26 May to 2 June, and all qualifying candidates must make themselves available to take part during that period. The exact timing of the assessments for the six technician and apprentice categories will be announced in the April issue of bodyshop magazine as well as online at
bodyshopmag.com.
As we strive to maintain an open and transparent process for the awards, each edition of bodyshop magazine until May 2020 will introduce three members of the 15-person judging panel. This month, it’s the turn of judges 7-to-9 Julie Eley, Steve Plunkett and Ian Pugh.
bodyshop awards jurors 7-to-9
7. Julie Eley
Automotive compliance specialist | Freelance
15 years in the automotive sector, including experience in customer service, technical and training, estimating and engineering, operations, compliance and running bodyshops. Previously spent 12 years working with young people, including delivering training, apprenticeships and health and safety.
8. Steve Plunkett
Body and paint programme development manager | Volvo
Coming up for 43 years in the industry, including eight years running Volvo’s body and paint programme. Previously worked as an apprentice painter/panel beater, in trade parts sales, workshop equipment, refinish technical and paint sales, and as a bodyshop manager.
Ian Pugh
Managing director | Fix Auto UK
After starting out as an apprentice technician with a Ford main dealer 30 years ago, Pugh became an insurance motor engineer. He then held senior positions in repair network management and engineering at Allianz and Audatex, before joining vehicle repair franchise Fix Auto UK in 2011.
