Entries have now officially opened for Bodyshop Magazine’s two high-profile independent awards initiatives which will recognise and celebrate the accident repair industry’s highest achievers and rising stars at the Bodyshop Awards 2025.
We have once again teamed up with 3M to develop and deliver Bodyshop Magazine’s ever-popular 30 Under 30: Rising Stars programme, and we will be making further announcements in the new year regarding other key partnerships for the Bodyshop Awards 2025.
Bodyshop Awards 2025
The magazine’s editor Simon Wait said: “We’ll have some exciting news to report about the industry’s oldest and most coveted Awards programme in the coming weeks, including a change to some of the categories, some additions, and the date and venue for next autumn’s showcase event.
“So I recommend everyone in our industry to start thinking about who deserves to be recognised by Bodyshop Magazine from among their team-mates, their clients, or their suppliers, and then head over to our website to nominate their best of the best.
“Our 30 Under 30 initiative, together with the apprentice, technician and repairer awards that we run, is among my personal favourites and it continues to illustrate that the future of our industry is in good hands. 3M’s dedication to developing and nurturing new and existing talent blends perfectly with our own vision.
“And teaming up once more with other forward-thinking organisations such as Axalta, Repairify, and Thatcham Research, to name just a few, will advance the UK body repair industry’s oldest and most prestigious independent awards competition to yet another exciting level.”
Birthday celebrations
Next year, Bodyshop Magazine will celebrate its 38th birthday and the Awards will turn 28. It will also see the ninth edition of the 30 Under 30 initiative which was established in 2017 to mark the 30th anniversary of the magazine.
To qualify for 30 Under 30, nominees must be 30 years of age or under on 30 September 2025 and work, in any role, within the UK collision repair industry and its supply chain. Past winners have come from multiple job roles including apprentices and technicians, recruiters and front-of-house staff, VDAs, bodyshop managers and business owners, paints suppliers, marketers and distributors, insurers, vehicle manufacturers, and more.
Those who fit the age requirements can nominate themselves or be entered by their peers, bosses and colleagues via our streamlined 30 Under 30 online nomination form. The final line-up of 30 winners, as chosen by an independent panel of industry experts and Bodyshop Magazine, will be celebrated live on stage during the Bodyshop Awards 2025 event next autumn.
Entries for both the 30 Under 30: Rising Stars and Bodyshop Awards 2025 opened on 1 December 2024 and will remain open for four months until 31 March 2025. Scan the QR codes below to enter either the Bodyshop Awards or 30 Under 30 … or both:
- Bodyshop Awards 2025 nominations
- 30 Under 30: Rising Stars nominations
- Awards competition categories
- Awards and 30 Under 30 rules
The line-up of major awards categories established in 1997 will continue once again next year and includes Technical Training Provider, Supplier, and VDA of the Year. Bodyshop categories for 2025 will include the ever-popular Bodyshop Manager of the Year, best Bodyshop Group open to multi-site operators, and Small, Medium and Large Bodyshop of the Year.
The Technician and Apprentice Awards for skilled panel and paint technicians are all about promoting and recognising body repair and refinish excellence and inspiring the next generation of paint sprayers and panel techs to pursue a career in our industry.
Technical categories
The Advanced Technologies Technician of the Year category, which was introduced in 2022, is open to the very best senior MET and
multi-skilled technicians who must hold a current qualification or accreditation at Level 3 or above in both EV and ADAS.
Next year will also see the return of the Apprentice MET category for first and second year apprentices specialising in Mechanical, Electrical and Trim, or those pursuing a multi-skilled qualification.
The independent assessment processes for apprentices and technicians will take place online and in-person over the next seven months to ensure these Bodyshop Magazine categories remain challenging and unique within the crash repair industry. They are specifically designed for bodyshop employees working on the front line of repairs, some of whom will be experienced professionals while others will be working towards their apprenticeship qualifications.
With the race to find our 2025 Awards finalists and 30 Under 30 winners now under way, please look out for future issues of Bodyshop, go to our website to submit your nominations, and come back regularly to stay up to date, and to feel the Bodyshop Awards 2025 buzz as it builds throughout the year.
