30 under 30 initiative kicks off bodyshop Live!
The UK collision repair industry’s most respected and prestigious expo and awards event – bodyshop Live! 2019 – kicked off in style today with a special presentation dinner to recognise and applaud the year’s outstanding young achievers.
bodyshop magazine’s 30 under 30: rising stars initiative paints a bright and colourful picture of the vast pool of talented young individuals who are succeeding in the industry today and shaping it for tomorrow.
The 2019 winners (click for the full list of 30 under 30: rising stars 2019 winners) come from across the full spectrum of job functions in the industry – including paint, panel and MET technicians, administrative staff, recruiters and future bodyshop managers.
And tonight, one lucky person among the 30 had his name drawn out of a hat to win an all-expenses paid trip to the 20th anniversary IBIS Global Summit. Congratulations to Audatex implementation manager George Pangborn, who will be heading to Monaco in June 2020.
“I’m over the moon about it,” Pangborn said afterwards. “I’d spoken to the some of the Audatex senior management guys who have been to IBIS events before and I’d always wanted to experience one. So to win a trip to the IBIS Global Summit is brilliant.”
Guests at tonight’s awards dinner at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole heard some inspirational stories from the 30 under 30: rising stars winners, as well as from three special guests.
The evening kicked off with an informal networking and drinks reception set among the exhibitor stands for the bodyshop Live! 2019 Expo and was followed by the dinner hosted by radio presenter Danny Fullbrook.
Fullbrook, who himself is a rising star in the world of radio, emceed the 30 under 30: rising stars awards ceremony, kept the audience entertained with his quick-fire humour and interviewed special guests Zack Pinsent, Åse Brekke Roeand Daryl Head.
When he was 14 years old, Pinsent abandoned modern garb and later founded his one-man bespoke period tailoring business, Pinsent Tailoring, which makes historically accurate garments from as far back as the late 1600s. Pinsent, now 25, shared his unique story and presented each of the winners with their award and a unique tailored gift.
Brekker Roe, 24, who hails from Norway, has always loved cars and regards her role as a paint technician as her passion rather than a job. After being encouraged to enter WorldSkills by her teacher, Brekker Roe won the regional competition to qualify as the first female to take part in the nationals. A year later she finished fifth in ‘car painting’ and earned a medal of excellence at WorldSkills in São Paulo, Brazil.
Head’s journey in the industry began in 2012 when he started his paint apprenticeship just days after leaving school. Since then he has gone on to compete in the National Skills Competition, be named Nationwide ARC Apprentice of the Year and claimed silver at the 2017 WorldSkills in Abu Dhabi.
bodyshop magazine thanks everyone who continues to support the 30 under 30: rising stars initiative – in particular the nominators and nominees – without whom none of this would be possible.
The magazine is also grateful to the bodyshop Live! 2019 sponsors for helping to make the event such a triumph every year, so special thanks go to our headline partners Axalta, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Solera Audatex and Vizion Network; solus partners CAPS, Car-O-Liner, IAEA, NIBS Group and Remit Group; and expo partners Eclipse, EMACS, Enviology, FLP, GYS, OEC Connection, Outsorc, Symach, Thatcham Research, Toyota First and Tractable.
