UK Garage and Bodyshop Event offers fresh perspective for bodyshop sector

Date: Thursday 09 December 2021

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The new UK Garage and Bodyshop Event has revealed its theme will be ‘Training, Technology and Tools’, as the event hosts a showcase of new technologies, products and training initiatives from leading suppliers.

The aim is to support suppliers, garage and bodyshop business owners, technicians, and specialists to futureproof their businesses and careers, while enabling them to tackle the challenges the industry is facing.

Organised by Messe Frankfurt UK (the organisers of Automechanika Birmingham), The UK Garage & Bodyshop Event is a new concept, which positions bodyshops at the heart of what the event will offer. While there are themes that are common for both bodyshops and the service and repair (garages) sectors, including attracting talent, the need to train and upskill, and the challenges posed by advancing trends and technologies, there will be a dedicated offering for the bodyshop sector’s unique needs and challenges too.

Organisers are working hard to enhance existing partnerships and develop new ones to ensure the event serves the bodyshop sector effectively. Partnerships have been forged with Bodyshop Magazine who will be sponsoring the Bodyshop Training Hub and the National Body Repairers Association to show support for the collision repair industry.

Relationships with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) will bring a focus on skills and competence for bodyshops and Thatcham Research will showcase its EV Ready Training Programme. Conversations with School of Thought, leading paint technicians, bodyshop owners and industry experts are ongoing in order to champion the event for the industry.

New for 2022, the event will offer visitors an extensive programme of technical seminars and demonstrations to bring technology to life, and to deliver a real practical element of insight for visitors, so they can see things in action to inform the decisions they need to be making as technicians, and as business owners.

As well as Hybrid & Electric Vehicles and Workshop Training Hubs, there will be a dedicated Bodyshop Training Hub and Collision Repair feature, which will address topical issues for bodyshops directly.

In addition, there will be a strong focus on the Business Services element, where business owners and managers can access information and advice to continue driving their business forward. This includes information around legislation, finance, marketing, staff recruitment, training and retention, plus post-Covid recovery and the impact of Brexit.

Project Director at Messe Frankfurt UK, Kristan Johnstone, comments:

“In many ways the new UK Garage and Bodyshop Event follows the usual trade event format. However, we are stripping it down to some core elements, and really focussing on bringing it to life through the showcase and practical demonstrations of new technologies, products and training initiatives.”

The event is already proving popular with major automotive aftermarket suppliers already confirmed to participate on 8th and 9th June 2022, including Bosch Automotive Aftermarket UK bringing their focus on ADAS, TMD Friction, Liqui Moly UK, Valeo Service UK, ZF [pro] Tech and Snap On.

There will also be a major presence from training partner Automotive Alliance Group, who have confirmed GroupAuto and UAN will showcase their Garage Networks, Autocare and United Garage Services alongside the NAPA brand to bring their expertise and initiatives to bodyshops.

You can register to attend the UK Garage and Bodyshop when registration opens in the new year. To stay up to date with the latest information, please email Grace.Marr@uk.messefrankfurt.com

If you’d like to exhibit at the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event 2022 and benefit from a discounted rate when booking your stand early, contact grant.elrick@uk.messefrankfurt.com or call +44 (0)1483 663823.

For more information, visit www.garage-and-bodyshop-event.uk.messefrankfurt.com/

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