Bodyshop Magazine has finalised the speaker line-up for its exciting Bodyshop Magazine LIVE 2026 event, which takes place 14-15 October in The Masters Suite at The Belfry Hotel & Resort.
Following a first-night Welcome Party which is free to attend for everyone from the UK repair sector, day two kicks off on the main stage in the Bodyshop Hub with a packed Collision Intelligence agenda of top-quality speakers and panellists who will provide an in-depth overview of the repair sector, and deliver multiple learning opportunities for bodyshops navigating one of the most challenging periods in recent times.
Event speakers finalised
The second day will consist of five insightful sessions, beginning with an interview with new Steer Automotive Group CEO Jana Siber, and a panel discussion titled “Consolidation in UK Accident repair – the State of the Industry” featuring Siber, Vella Group CEO Marc Holding, and Precision Repair Group CEO Victoria Turner.
Then mergers and acquisitions expert Rob Goddard, chairman of S-Cubed Advisory, will provide insights and advice for repairers looking to “Scale up or Sell up”, followed by Andrew Marsh, technical director from AutobodyBible, who will explain “Chinese Vehicles are Repairable – Here’s How”.
Robert Snook from Business Success Global will then moderate “The Lightning Sessions” – five back-to-back presentations in which the speakers will each have just six minutes to address and resolve one of the main issues of the day.
The Lightning Sessions speakers are Paul Glover from the Stellantis Accident Repair Programme; Dane Hyland from Fylde Coast ARC; Tony Baker from Motofix Group; Parwinder Dhutty from Clarke and Evans; and Simon Kenny from Liam Kenny Body Repairs.
After lunch on the Mezzanine Level, Emma Speed and Wendy Turner-Hargreaves from AutoRaise will host a workshop during which 30 industry insiders will debate questions around the skills and labour shortages, develop news ideas and provide feedback on possible solutions and outcomes.
Raising the bar
Bodyshop Magazine editor Simon Wait said as the event speakers finalised: “The annual Bodyshop Magazine event is the highlight of the accident repair calendar for many in our industry, and we’re delighted this year to raise the bar once again and hopefully deliver multiple opportunities for delegates to ask questions and take what they learn back to their businesses.”
In addition to the Collision Intelligence speaker sessions, Bodyshop Magazine LIVE 2026 will see the return of the KnowledgeXchange, the free advice surgery featuring experts in energy and carbon, HR and employment law, business operations, apprenticeships, mergers and acquisitions, estimating, and NBRA services.
The KnowledgeXchange experts this year are Steve Silverwood from ECA Business Energy; Paul Edwards and Rob Goddard from S-Cubed Advisory; Andy Pennell from Estimate Coaching; Eleanor Baker Barnes from Apprenticeship Central; Nicola Sutherland from NS People Partners; Robert Snook from Business Success Global; and Martyn Rowley and Rachel Meenaghan from the NBRA.
To book a free 30-minute confidential session with any of these experts, sign up on the KnowledgeXchange web page.
To attend the free Welcome Party and the free Bodyshop Hub daytime activities, simply head to the Bodyshop Magazine LIVE 2026 registration page, where you can also buy your tickets for the Bodyshop Awards and 30 Under 30 black-tie dinner.
