Peter Smith passes away aged 74
Peter Smith, former joint managing director of historic tyre distributor BMTR, has passed away suddenly at the age of 74. Along with his brother Paul, Peter was part of the third generation of the Smith family to run the business founded by their Grandfather Jack Smith in 1919.
Continue ReadingMike Welch named RSE Fellow
Tyre industry entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr Michael Welch OBE, has been named alongside BAFTA and Emmy-winning satirist Armando Iannucci and award-winning journalist and charity founder Sally Magnusson among the 57 fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) announced the 2024. Other 2024 fellows include: Leonie Bell, Director of the V&A Dundee, public health advocate Professor Jason Gill, and Professor Elham Kashefi, a world leader in the field of quantum computing.
Continue ReadingTransaid appoints new head of fundraising
Transaid has appointed Maddy Matheson, 26, as its new head of fundraising. Matheson joined Transaid’s fundraising team in 2021, most recently serving as communications and corporate partnerships manager, where she was responsible for assisting the development and delivery of fundraising strategy.
Continue ReadingMillstream deflates risk of punctures with Michelin X Tweel
Punctures had been an increasing problem for Millstream Estate Services of late, but not since equipping its grass cutting fleet with airless Michelin X Tweel Turf wheels. The Milton Keynes-based business now runs the tyre and wheel combination on five of its six Kubota ZD 1211 zero-turn mowers and plans to upgrade the remaining machine in the near future.
Continue ReadingTRA: UK the ‘environmental sick man of Europe’ if government doesn’t act
“Britain will be the environmental sick man of Europe if government doesn’t act soon to update waste regulations,” according to the Tyre Recovery Association (TRA). Revealing the correspondence underway with the Secretary of State for the Environment and his department, the TRA statement makes public the issues the UK government are reportedly failing to engage with.
Continue ReadingMarangoni bucking market trends: 18% growth achieved in the UK in 2023
Towards the end of 2023, Phil Robinson, Marangoni senior country manager for the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and United Arab Emirates, explained the importance of the UK tyre retreading sector to sustainability as part of the annual NTDA Tyre Industry Conference. A few months later the specific impact of Marangoni’s success on the wider retreading business in the region is now becoming apparent.
Continue ReadingGarage Hive relocates to purpose-built premises
Garage Hive has moved to a new purpose-built site in Nottingham. The relocation comes as Garage Hive outgrew its previous offices and sought a larger space to accommodate its expanding team and enhance its services.
Continue ReadingElectric vans arrive in Michelin Services and Solutions fleet
With the delivery of 17 Vauxhall Combo vans, Michelin has completed the first phase of its electric vehicle (EV) transition programme in the van fleet that its Services and Solutions division operates in the UK. The electric vans, supplied on a four-year lease and featuring a Michelin livery that emphasises the company’s sustainability commitments, are part of “ambitious” plans to electrify the division’s 54-strong fleet by 2026.
Continue ReadingComline Group relocates UK headquarters
Comline Group has unveiled plans for the relocation of its UK headquarters, a decision that has been described as the “most significant” in the history of the company. For over a decade, Comline Group has been based at its current home in Luton, but “sustained growth” has seen the company reach the operational limits of its current facility. As a result, Comline Group is moving to a brand-new site at Bedford Commercial Park.
Continue ReadingGovernment small business initiative welcomed by IGA
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has responded to the Government’s latest Initiative to Boost Small Businesses. The increase in the VAT registration threshold from £85,000 to £90,000 is welcomed, as it will provide relief to 28,000 small businesses, allowing them to invest more in their operations and expand their enterprises. Additionally, the freeze on the small business rates multiplier for the fourth consecutive year is particularly welcomed as it will safeguard over one million properties from higher bills, contributing to financial stability and security for many garage owners.
Continue ReadingFinal 2023 Repxpert Millionaire announced
The third and final winner of Schaeffler’s Repxpert Millionaire promotion for 2023, which was for FAG products scanned between October and December, has been announced as The Village Garage, based in Bishops Waltham, Hampshire, with the announcement being made as the competition returns for 2024.
Continue ReadingEcobat backs Paul Barker in Superstock 1000 series
As the official license holder for Lucas batteries throughout Europe, Ecobat Battery is shining a spotlight on the brand by sponsoring Paul Barker and his Honda CBR1000RR for their combined British Superstock 1000 series campaign, which is a prominent championship that supports the popular British Superbike (BSB) competition.
Continue ReadingGT Radial sponsors Northampton Saints rugby union team
GT Radial is now the Official Tyre Partner, shorts sponsor and a ground advertiser with leading English Gallagher Premiership rugby union team Northampton Saints. As a result of the sponsorship, the GT Radial logo will be placed on the back right of the players’ shorts on both the home and away kits. The brand will also take a large advertising space in the Barwell Stand next to the electronic scoreboard, which can be seen from all sides of the 15,200 capacity stadium. The scoreboard will also display GT Radial advertising and brand recognition campaigns. GT Radial will also receive matchday tickets or hospitality at every home league game, and once-a-season use of the ultra-immersive Tunnel Club, a glass-walled restaurant situated between the home and away changing rooms with premium access matchday seats right next to the home dugout.
Continue ReadingZF Aftermarket reinforces the importance of ongoing training with [pro]Service offering
The automotive industry’s need for vehicle technician training is becoming increasingly crucial with the increasing electrification and diversity of cars on UK roads. ZF Aftermarket says the significance of keeping up with the latest advancements led it to develop its [pro]Service offering tailored to the specific needs of commercial vehicle (CV) workshops.
Continue ReadingSouthend-on-Sea has the worst roads in England – new survey
New research has revealed that Southend-on-Sea has the worst roads in the country. Looking at the average percentage of roads requiring maintenance between 2018 and 2023 according to Department for Transport figures, car check expert Motorscan said the coastal town in southeast England had an average percentage of 24.6 per cent of B and C roads requiring maintenance between 2018 and 2023, the highest figure of any area in the country. This, combined with 15.6 per cent of A roads requiring maintenance in the same period, means that it comes in as the area with the worst roads in England.
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