Bodyshop Magazine celebrated the best and brightest in the UK accident repair industry with its Bodyshop Awards 2024 winners yesterday (19 September) at the 28th edition of the most-respected and most-coveted prize-giving event in the sector.
Following months of jury deliberation and online and in-person hands-on technical testing, 17 independent awards were handed out to individuals and organisations from across the UK body repair and refinish sector, including apprentices and senior technicians, assessors, work providers, vehicle manufacturers, educators, and bodyshops of all sizes.
Bodyshop Awards 2024 winners
Before the Awards got under way at the NEC’s Hilton Birmingham Metropole, Bodyshop Magazine hosted its daytime Collision Intelligence Expo, which featured industry insights presentations by Dean Lander from Thatcham Research, Chris Cotterill from the IMI, Tim Scothern from Stellantis, Adam Thurman from EV Bodyshops, the technical team from Toyota, and a wide-ranging interview with Steer Automotive Group chief executive Richard Steer, who was immediately praised for his open and direct responses to questions.
The daytime Expo was followed by the magazine’s popular 30 Under 30: Rising Stars in partnership with 3M, which recognised and celebrated the industry’s rising young talent.
Among the many notable highlights at the Bodyshop Awards 2024 evening event – which was brilliantly hosted by the acclaimed actor, writer and presenter Stephen Mangan – was just how close the judging and the practical assessments were across several categories, with multiple Highly Commended trophies also awarded by the independent judging panel.
The 2024 event saw the introduction of a new charity partner for the Expo and Awards – the Butterfly Skin charity, DEBRA UK – which collected £11,465 through its generous raffle and, more importantly, raised more awareness about the rare and extremely painful genetic skin condition known as epidermolysis bullosa (EB). To find out more about EB and how you can help, click here to visit the DEBRA UK website.
One poignant presentation on the night provided real insight into how the UK repair community can come together. When the Bodyshop Editor’s Special Recognition Award was announced in honour of the late Gethyn Davies, and as Geth’s widow Louise and daughters Molly and Lucy walked to the stage to receive his trophy (pictured top), the room rose to their feet for a standing ovation honouring Geth’s decades-long service to the industry, and the courage of his family.
Other industry champions who passed away in 2024 – including Bob Linwood, Andrew Long, Dane Loosley and Mark Pickles – were also honoured and celebrated by the audience in the room.
In other awards, the Paint Technician and Advanced Technologies Technician categories were both closely fought battles, with Paris Asquith from Steer Automotive Sleaford just edging Matthew Coulson of DLG Auto Services in the Advanced Tech contest, while paint winner Kevin Clothier from Foray Motor Group and independent technician Grace Richards could only be separated by the time they took to complete the competition tasks.
Tight battles were also seen in the apprentice categories and Bodyshop Manager of the Year which was won by Ashley Rowe from Wyndon Motors.
Bodyshop Magazine editor Simon Wait said of the Bodyshop Awards 2024 winners:
“It’s been a night to remember and we are extremely grateful to all of our Bodyshop Awards & Expo 2024 partners for helping to make the event such a triumph again this year. Our special thanks go to Platinum Partners 3M, Axalta, Repairify and Vizion Network; Gold Partners AkzoNobel, Automechanika Birmingham 2025, BASF, CAPS, Enterprise, IAEA, Kapci Coatings, LKQ Bodyshop, Morelli Group, Remit Training, Stellantis, Thatcham Research; TPS for Volkswage Genuine Parts; and Silver Partners A1 ADAS Solutions, Accident Credit Group, Core Diagnostics, INDASA, Onyx BMS, Primrose Radar Calibration, Silverlake Automotive Recycling, Sherwin-Williams, and Walcom.
“Thanks also to our 30 Under 30 partners 3M, to CAPS for the welcome drinks reception, to Vizion for the Gin Bar sponsorship; to Prasco UK for supplying panels, and Axalta and 3M for competition paint and consumables used during the hands-on technician assessments at Remit.
“Nominations for the 2025 Bodyshop Awards and 30 Under 30 competition will open on 1 December 2024 and run until 31 March 2025. We had a record number of entries this year across all competitions and all categories, and we expect to smash that again in the coming months. Please visit bodyshopmag.com to find out more,” he added.
To read about the success of Bodyshop Magazine’s reimagined Collision Intelligence Expo, which took place ahead of the black-tie evening Awards celebration, don’t miss the October issue of Bodyshop Magazine.
Bodyshop Awards 2024 winners
- Bodyshop Manager of the Year 2024 – Ashley Rowe | Wyndon Motors | Coventry
- Highly commended – Lesley Knisz| Fix Auto | Liverpool South
- Bodyshop Editor’s Special Recognition Award – Gethyn Davies
Powered by Vizion – Bodyshop Remit Apprentice & Technician Awards 2024
- Panel Apprentice of the Year – Albie Rowlett | Solus ARC | Finchley
- Highly commended – Alyssa Head | FMG Repair Services | Chelmsford
- Paint Apprentice of the Year – David Lindert | Steer Automotive Group | Romford
- Panel Technician of the Year – Luke Finch | Solus ARC | Park Royal
- Paint Technician of the Year – Kevin Clothier | Foray Motor Group | Yeovil
- Highly commended – Grace Richards| Independent | Swindon
Powered by asTech – Bodyshop Thatcham Advanced Technologies Technician 2024
- Advanced Technologies Technician of the Year – Paris Asquith | Steer Automotive Group | Sleaford
- Highly commended – Matthew Coulson | DLG Auto Services | Aylesbury
Powered by IAEA – Bodyshop Thatcham VDA of the Year 2024
- VDA of the Year – Mel Johnston | Solus ARC | Warrington
Bodyshop Awards 2024 winners
- Technical Training Provider of the Year – RWC Training
- Work Provider of the Year – LV= General Insurance
- Highly commended – AXA Insurance
- Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year – Stellantis
- Highly commended – Toyota
- Supply Chain Partner of the Year – Morelli Group
- Small Bodyshop of the Year – Car Fix Solutions | Telford
- Highly commended – Smartxpress Paint & Body
- Medium Bodyshop of the Year – Fix Auto | Swansea West
- Highly commended – Doseley Motors
- Large Bodyshop of the Year – Cougar Accident Repair | Luton
- Bodyshop Group of the Year – Motofix Group
- Highly commended – Drive Motor Retail
- Environmental Trailblazer Award – CarComm Solutions | Telford
