Continental Tyres is growing its in-house ‘ContiAcademy’ training centre following an increase in demand for courses this year. Situated in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, the ContiAcademy will benefit from a larger and newly refurbished classroom and additional breakout room to accommodate larger groups in accordance with COVID-safety measures.
Merityre is celebrating a hat trick of industry award wins this year, which honoured the tyre retailer for its service and retail excellence. The company, which has over 20 branches across the south of England, Merityre picked up two gongs at the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) Tyre Industry Awards including the Medium Tyre Retailer of the Year and overall Tyre Retailer of the Year awards.
Speaking on behalf of the executive officers of the NTDA, national chairman Martin O’Brien welcomed delegates to the 7th NTDA Tyre Industry Conference (sponsored as it was by GB Tyres (UK) Ltd in association with Linglong Tyres), before updating us all on the continued growth of the association and addressing the subjects of recycling (via a TRA update) and industry training.
Autogem has been praised as “an indispensable partner in the aftermarket to a great number of businesses” following its victory in the Tyre Industry Awards 2021 Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year category. The UK provider of automotive chemicals, fasteners, hand tools, workshop consumables, and TPMS solutions was recognised for its adaptation during the pandemic as well as its investment in products and training support.
The two Tyre Industry Awards presented to Bridgestone during the National Tyre Distributors Association’s 7 October ceremony represent a “huge coup” for the company according to Andrea Manenti, North Europe region vice president. The manufacturer said the awards were the result of its recently launched “best-in-class new products” and its “commitment to a sustainable future and staff training.” Bridgestone was presented with the Staff Training & Development accolade and the headline Tyre Manufacturer of the Year award – the fourth time they have triumphed in the category since 2015 – at a packed International Convention Centre in Birmingham.
NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay’s NTDA Tyre Industry Conference 2021 speech covered a range of pressing topics, that – due to the impact of the pandemic and its associated lockdowns – couldn’t be addressed in-person before now: key worker lobbying, climate change and the importance of training and technicians were amongst the main topics.
The National Tyre Distributors Association has presented a bumper crop of awards during its 92nd Annual Dinner in Birmingham. In the headline awards, Merityre was made the Overall Tyre Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Pirelli Tyres, Bridgestone took first place in Tyre Manufacturer of the Year, sponsored by The Commercial Vehicle Show, while Stapleton’s Tyre Services became 2021’s Tyre Wholesaler of the Year, sponsored by Compilator / Team Systems. Tyrepress reported the announcement of the award winners, in addition to the day’s Tyre Industry Conference, live via Twitter.
The 2021 Tyre Industry Conference is underway in Birmingham today after the pandemic caused a temporary break from the in-person event in 2020. Proceedings began with NTDA chief executive, Stefan Hay introducing the event and speakers via a wide-ranging introductory speech covering: key worker lobbying, the importance of training and technicians and more.
The NTDA has named Anthony C. Gruppo CEO of Marsh Commercial, motivational speaker and author, as the opening keynote presenter at its 7th Tyre Industry Conference to be held at the ICC in Birmingham on Thursday 7 October. As CEO of Marsh Commercial, Anthony now has responsibility for leading over 2,500 colleagues based in over 50 branches throughout the UK.
The 7th Tyre Industry Conference to be held at the ICC in Birmingham on Thursday 7 October 2021 (sponsored by GB Tyre UK Ltd in association with Linglong Tyres) will close-out with rugby union referee Nigel Owens speaking. According to the NTDA, Nigel Owens MBE is widely acknowledged as the best referee in rugby union. “His decision-making, approach to dealing with players, knowledge and interpretation of the rules is universally acclaimed by players, coaches and commentators”, the association stated in its announcement, adding: “He is also the sport’s only openly-gay official.”
Only one in six drivers remembered to check their tyre pressure before setting off on a long journey, according to research commissioned by Highways England. Yet one in five motorway breakdowns are caused by worn or incorrectly inflated tyres and nearly a third of drivers confessed that they’re not confident checking tyre pressure.
A coalition of trade associations (including the NTDA) and commercial organisations (including Halfords and Kwik Fit) has been formed to lobby the UK government to uphold “the rights of the independent aftermarket and consumers in the post-Brexit era.” The UK Alliance for the Freedom of Car Repair (AFCAR), which derives its name from the European group of the same name, will primarily lobby on the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulations (MV-BER), Vehicle Type Approval (including access to Repair & Maintenance Information) and Cybersecurity.
The 2021 Tyre Industry Awards finalist shortlist has been published by the NTDA. The awards are due to be presented at a ceremony sponsored for the seventh consecutive year by Sailun Tyres, during the association’s 92nd Annual Dinner on Thursday 7 October at the International Convention Centre (ICC) Birmingham. The dinner is sponsored by long-standing NTDA supplier member, and Tyre Industry Awards supporter, Maritime Cargo Services, while the awards will be hosted, once again, by popular TV personality and Rugby Union pundit Mark Durden-Smith. The 2021 finalists include many former award winners, finalists, and some new nominees.
The media might have picked up on the rhetoric of “freedom day”, but the NTDA’s recent “Keeping Tyre Centres Safe” report highlights the fact that businesses will still be required to take responsibility for managing health and safety risks: “All employers will continue to have a legal responsibility to protect workers and others from a risk to their health and safety and have a legal duty to consult workers on health and safety matters.” Here, Tyrepress.com takes a close look at the responsibility and choices facing tyre retailers.
Data in the NTDA’s “Keeping Tyre Centres Safe” report shows that 95 per cent of tyre centres keeping some or all Covid-19 measures. Providing useful insights into consumer and retail thinking on subject, the NTDA report highlights that: two-thirds of drivers are concerned about Covid-19 restrictions being lifted (this trend was most noticeable in Scotland where the figure was 69 per cent); that the majority “want to see safety measures REMAIN in tyre centres”; and that “63 per cent of the nations’ drivers would be more likely to choose (and 65 per cent more likely to trust) a tyre centre that continues to enforce safety measures”.
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