IAAF unveils new Garage Awards

The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) will host its first-ever Garage Awards in partnership with Automechanika Birmingham in 2023 on 7 June.

The numerous awards will celebrate the very best of the garage industry, with categories and the nomination process set to be revealed shortly.

Simon Albert, managing director of event organiser Messe Frankfurt UK, said: “We were keen to ensure we have a platform to continue the recognition of garages into the evening, and IAAF offered the perfect opportunity to do this with the Federation’s new garage membership offering.

“This allows us to not only provide value to vehicle technicians through informative insight that will be provided from exhibitors and the form of the many training initiatives available throughout the course of the show, but also by celebrating the hard work and commitment that they bring to the aftermarket, day in, day out.”

Meanwhile, IAAF is also developing its new training academy and each garage member will be promoted to motorists on the Right 2 Repair campaign website.

Mark Field, IAAF chief executive, said: “The IAAF represents the largest number of motor factors and suppliers in the automotive aftermarket. To strengthen the federation’s lobbying power, it makes sense to add more garages into our membership and to bring the supply chain closer together, as we predominantly look to work more closely with the independent aftermarket as a whole, as well as universities and colleges.

“This new avenue is really ambitious for us, but it is certainly a step in the right direction in bridging the gap between garages and the rest of the supply chain, offering much-needed support and training.”