Bodyshop Live! 2020 awards nominations
Nominations are starting to flood in for the bodyshop Live! 2020 awards and 30 under 30: rising stars initiative, and there’s now just three months left to submit your candidates using bodyshopmag.com’s online nominations form ahead of the 31 March deadline.
For 2020, we have expanded the independent panel of judges from 11 members to 15 to further enhance the integrity and fairness of the collision repair industry’s only independent awards.
The additions will ensure that should one or more panellist experience a conflict of interest and be required by bodyshop magazine to leave the room during judging for any particular award, the remaining body of jurors holds sufficient gravitas across a broad range of industry sectors.
As we strive to maintain an open and transparent process for the awards, each edition of bodyshop magazine between now and May 2020 will introduce three members of the judging panel. First up are Franco Iannotta, Martyn Rowley and Kevern Thompson (see below).
A major part of the bodyshop Live! 2020 awards will be the Powered by Vizion – bodyshop Remit Technician and Apprentice Awards – for experienced and trainee level MET, panel and paint technicians – which will be judged over the coming months using online testing and practical hands-on workshop assessments.
Bodyshop is delighted to welcome back Vizion Network – a leading organisation in developing, implementing and promoting skills and training programmes. Furthermore, Vizion’s network of over 750 repair centres countrywide gives it a unique vantage point from which to understand, shape and continuously improve standards and levels of service.
In a similar vein, Remit has an enviable reputation as an Ofsted-accredited provider of training and apprenticeship programmes, and as such is hosting and providing the equipment for the practical assessments designed to put your nominees through their paces with a series of challenging practical tasks.
After a warm industry welcome for 30 under 30: rising stars in 2017, the initiative has gone from strength to strength, and last year for the first time it was a key part of the bodyshop Live! expo and awards event. This year once more, 30 under 30: rising stars will have its own night of celebration and entertainment on the Thursday of bodyshop Live! 2020 (17-18 September).
In addition, a new partnership agreement with 3M means 30 under 30: rising stars is enjoying renewed cachet within the industry, and already this has been recognised with numerous recommendations coming in from self-nominated individuals, peers, colleagues and bosses.
Nicolas Henriksson, 3M’s regional marketing manager for northern Europe, said: “3M has a strong belief in supporting and recognising highly engaged young talents and to retain them in our business. In response to future challenges and pressures it remains important to praise high potential efforts and attract young stars to engage in the development and ongoing sustainability of our industry.”
bodyshop awards jurors 1-to-3
1. Franco Iannotta
Bodyshop development manager | Volkswagen Group UK
29 years in the collision repair industry, including the last 23 at Volkswagen Group UK. Currently responsible for compliance, repair quality standards, and customer experience for the approved bodyshop network. Prior to joining VWG, Iannotta ran his own vehicle repair business.
2. Martyn Rowley
Business development manager | Audatex UK Limited
40 years in collision repair, including current position working in IT, communications and repair industry estimation. Previously worked at Ford Motor Company; in motor insurance; dealer-based and independent accident repair centres (management, estimation, shop floor); and dealer-based mechanical service.
3. Kevern Thompson
Commercial manager | CAPS
36 years in the automotive industry, including service maintenance; bodyshops; engineering/vehicle damage assessor; automotive consultancy; motor insurance; vehicle manufacturing; and data exchange.
Click to read the January 2020 issue of bodyshop magazine in full.
