As another example of how the way we are doing business nowadays has been changed by the COVID pandemic, a survey carried out by the Independent Garage Association (IGA) has revealed that 88 per cent of independent garages are currently offering an MOT collection and delivery service for clinically extremely vulnerable and self-isolating people.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has released the Garage Guide to Working During COVID-19, to help independent garages easily find the guidance they need to support them through the current lockdown. The guide is available to all member and non-member garages and can be downloaded from the ‘COVID-19 Guidance for Independent Garages’ page on the IGA website.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has been shortlisted for the ‘COVID Champion Award’ at the 2021 Learning Awards, for the support they have given to garages throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This award is a new category for 2021, created to honour and pay tribute to those that have shown great strength and a deep passion for helping others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is releasing a Garage Guide to Online Presence to help independent garages promote their own image and online presence without relying on third-parties.
The 68-page guide contains step-by-step instructions on how to develop company branding, set up a website and social media pages, create Google Business and Maps listings, learn about online marketing methods, collect analytics and respond to reviews.
The government’s decision to end the six-month MOT extension on 1 August has been welcomed by the Independent Garage Association and the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA). Stuart James, IGA chief executive comments: We thank the Government for listening to our views. The news will give clarity to garages and allow them to plan for the busy period ahead.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is urging the Government to remove the six-month MOT extension with immediate effect, following the Prime Minister’s announcement that further social distancing measures will be relaxed from 4 July.
The Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, has responded to a letter requesting the six-month MOT extension to be reconsidered. The Indepent Garage Association (IGA) asked for the extension to be reassessed with car utilisation increasing after Coronavirus lockdown restrictions were eased. In response, Shapps explained that plans to stop the extension are constantly under review. The IGA said this mirrors the association’s desire to meet the safety measures required to end the MOT extension.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is launching a Covid-19 compliance certification scheme for garages wishing to demonstrate to their customers that the environment is safe. The scheme is based on the Government’s safe working guidelines to prevent coronavirus transmission and will underpin the IGA’s case to overturn the six-month MOT extension by providing evidence that garages are safe places for consumers to visit.
At the same time that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Independent Garage Association (IGA) and Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) published post-lockdown garage reopening advice, they also echoed earlier calls from the tyre aftermarket business to support MOT tests.
“We welcome the Chancellor’s update and extension to the furlough scheme, which will allow businesses to bring staff back to work on a part-time basis.” said Stuart James, chief executive of the Independent Garage Association (IGA). The IGA wrote to Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak on 29 April, requesting a partial furlough scheme that would allow employees to return to work part-time to support businesses throughout their reopening.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has requested an enhancement to the furlough scheme. It wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, to request an alteration to the current scheme enabling employees to return to work partially as the country prepares for the next phase of lockdown restrictions.
Many garages have responded to the drastic decline in business under lockdown conditions by offering discounts on MOTs. However, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) argues that such a measure cannot be sustained. The associations says that it is campaigning against the practice of discounting MOTs to help garages recuperate costs from the loss of revenue throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Effective today (30 March 2020) all cars, vans and motorcycles in the UK will be granted a 6-month MOT exemption. Drivers will still be required to keep their vehicles “roadworthy and safe to drive”. If motorist don’t keep their vehicles up to scratch, fines of up to £2,500, driving licence points and driving bans remain in place as penalties for those convicted.
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Chris McAndrew