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.
“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.
Statistics published in Catapult’s Centre for Connected & Autonomous Vehicles report show that 71 per cent of new vehicles registered in the UK in 2019 had connectivity features. With the ending of Block Exemption on the horizon for 2023, vehicle manufacturers could restrict access to vehicle data for the independent garage sector, limiting consumer choice for their service and repairs.
Midwest Motor Factors and Monmore Auto Parts have hosted their latest technical evening for independent garages at GTG Wolverhampton. More than 50 garage owners, technicians and apprentices attended the event, which this time featured presentations by Yuasa’s Ian Newham, European technical training manager and European Exhausts and Catalysts’ (EEC) Stuart Still, business development manager and technical trainer.
The UK aftermarket is a competitive environment, comprised of tens of thousands of repairers, roughly half of whom are independent garages. With an estimated car parc of 32.5 million passenger cars, garage visits that will be made in the UK this year create a valuable marketplace. Local, regional and national agents need to understand how to fine-tune their workshops and services to build client loyalty.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has published its 2019 report on consumer facing websites seeking to work with independent garages. The 2019 Garage Work Provider Report builds on the detail established in the 2018 report and features significantly more feedback and testimonials from independent garages.
Michelin Auto Professional (MAP) UK dealers have been told improving the overall experience of their customers is more important than ever, in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Business owners and senior managers from 16 independent dealer groups attended the annual MAP conference in Chichester, for a briefing on a new package of benefits being rolled out to members of Michelin’s advocate dealer programme.
IGA
Chris McAndrew
