Bodyshop Magazine’s 2008 Industry Awards are the ‘Oscars’ of the repair and refinish world. The winners of Bodyshop Magazine’s twelfth annual Industry Awards were announced during a glittering black-tie evening at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, to a crowd of 880 guests. Congratulations to all winners – the highly prized Awards are the benchmark of bodyshop industry success and each category is hotly contested.

The winners in each of the craft categories are listed below.

Craft Awards
Young Panel Technician of the Year
Daniel Cain, Just Car Clinics, Grimsby

Young Painter of the Year
Zak McLaughlan, Solus Norwich Union Hayes, Hayes

Panel Technician of the Year
Matthew Summerfield, Hammond Accident Repair Centre, Halesworth

Painter of the Year
Karl Anderson, Mercedes-Benz Witham, Witham

Well done to everyone who entered this year’s Awards. Nominations for the 2009 Awards will begin early next year.

Industry Awards
Insurance Company of the Year. Sponsored by EurotaxGlass’s
AXA Insurance

Accident Management Award. Sponsored by ACIS
Innovation Motorcare

Vehicle Manufacturer of the Year. Sponsored by Spies Hecker
Volkswagen Group

Best New Product 2008. Sponsored by R-M
SikaFlex 529 from Part UK – Division of sia Abrasives (GB) Ltd

Distributor Branch of the Year. Sponsored by ADF
Milton Keynes Paint and Equipment

Education/Training Award. Sponsored by SkillAuto
Training 2000

Bodyshop Training Award. Sponsored by MVRA
Individual: Commercial Contract Engineers
Group: Just Car Clinics

Customer Care Award. Sponsored by Brown Brothers
Parkford Coachworks

Commercial Vehicle Bodyshop of the Year. Sponsored by Direct Line
Perrys of Gobowen

Franchised Dealer Bodyshop of the Year. Sponsored by Accident Exchange
Halliwell Jones

Independent Bodyshop of the Year. Sponsored by Allianz Insurance
Alton Cars

Small Bodyshop of the Year. Sponsored by Helphire
Gaskell Motor Bodies

Vehicle Damage Assessor (VDA) of the Year. Sponsored by Paint Application Technologies
Russell Taylor, Motor Bodies Widnes

Bodyshop Manager of the Year. Sponsored by 3M
Carl Flint, GB Flint Coachworks

Lifetime Achievement Award.
Geoff Sharp

Outstanding Achievement Award Sponsored by Mirka
Sarah Sillars OBE

‘Congratulations to all of our 2008 Awards’ winners,’ said Bodyshop Magazine’s publisher Chris Mann. ‘Our Industry Awards are justifiably renowned for being notoriously difficult to win. For some years now the 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.’
Success
The Awards were presented by World Superbike Champion and MotoGP star James Toseland, who applauded the winners and finalists. ‘Top line success in bike racing depends upon combining talent with training, attention to detail and total commitment,’ said James. ‘I could not have had the success I’ve had, both in Superbikes and MotoGP without the talents of the technicians and engineers behind me, the same as in your industry.’

Together with Master of Ceremonies Paul Zenon, who wowed guests with his magical talents, the duo were a massive hit and the celebrating continued into the early hours of Saturday morning as guests partied the night away to the sounds of CRASH – James Toseland’s band.

‘Congratulations to all of the Award winners and finalists,’ said Chris, ‘All can feel proud they have set a new benchmark of excellence. On behalf of Bodyshop Magazine I would like to thank everyone who helped ensure this year’s Industry Event was a huge success.’