For some years now Bodyshop Magazine’s Industry Awards have been judged by an independent jury comprising leading figures from all sides of the industry. The jury procedure is rigorous, fair and unbiased. This year the overall quality of nominations was extremely high.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of Bodyshop Magazine’s 20th anniversary Industry Awards 2007. The winners were announced at a gala Awards dinner held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Friday 21 September. Over 1,000 people attended the evening, which brought together repairers, insurers, manufacturers and all sides of the industry.

The winners in each of the categories are listed below.

Craft Awards

Young Panel Technician of the Year
Joseph Franks, Rally Repaints, Selby

Young Painter of the Year
Shane Lawrence, A & J Lawrence, Portsmouth

Panel Technician of the Year
Nigel Leaf, G B Flint Coachworks, Long Eaton

Painter of the Year
Shaun Sandford, Niddvale, Harrogate

Bodyshop Awards

Innovation award
Sikkens Autoclear UV

The Awards jury also made special mention of the Thatcham/BSI Kitemark, which was recognised as one of the most significant developments to take place in the body repair industry for many years.

Insurance Company of the Year
esure

Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year
VW Group

Bodyshop Product of the Year
3M Perfect-it Ultrafina

Distributor Branch of the Year
Morelli, High Wycombe

The jury also singled out Sinemaster, Loughborough, for special praise, awarding it highly commended status.

Education award
Training 2000, Blackpool

The quality of the nominees in this category meant that the jury had a difficult task deciding on a winner and, as a result, both Blackwater House, Mallusk MANCAT, Manchester received highly commended status.

Bodyshop Training award
This was split into two parts: Group and single site

Group
BMW Group Academy

Single site
Hammond, Halesworth

Also highly commended were East Bilney Coachworks, Dereham and Norwich Union’s Solus Academy.

Customer Care award
SMB Accident Repair, Manchester

CV Bodyshop of the Year
Commercial Contract Engineering, Rochdale

The Awards jury also conferred highly commended status on Perry’s of Gobowen, Oswestry, last year’s joint winner.

Franchised Dealer Bodyshop
Bavarian Agnew, Belfast

Pentagon Toyota, Doncaster was also highly commended by the Awards jury.

Independent Bodyshop of the Year
East Bilney Coachworks, Dereham

Small Bodyshop of the Year
M G Cannon, Salisbury

KJ Rule & Son, St Austell, were highly commended for their continual investment and expansion of the bodyshop.

Estimator of the Year
Andrew Starkey, Nationwide, Kidderminster

Bodyshop Manager of the Year
Stuart Cook, Platinum ARC, Bath

Winner of the Independent Bodyshop Award, Mark Baldwin, East Bilney Coachworks, Dereham, was also highly commended by the judges.

Outstanding Achievement award
Jason Moseley, Thatcham

Lifetime Achievement award
Phil Gledhill, Norwich Union

Well done to everyone who entered this year’s Awards. Nominations for the 2008 Awards will begin early next year.