2012 Motor Codes Garage of the Year voting opens

Consumer voting for the 2012 Motor Codes Garage of the Year opened today (Friday 24 February) with a four-page special published in The Sun. The award has changed slightly in 2012, with the addition of award categories reflecting large and small garages. Motor Codes has also gained support from a headline competition sponsor, Havoline.

Chris Mason, managing director at Motor Codes says the competition “is a great opportunity to shout about what’s good in our industry and stand up against the negative image that some people still hold.” In addition, he says the backing provided by The Sun’s Ken Gibson and the sponsorship by Havoline “demonstrates increasing recognition of the quality of service provided by Motor Codes garages and the value placed on the competition by motorists looking for a stress-free servicing experience.”

Clive Woolford Motor Engineers in Tewkesbury was last year’s winner, and owner, Ian Boskett, says the award “brought in new customers from far and wide” resulting in “a record year”.

Havoline manager, distributors, John Jackson said the award’s effects are recognised on two levels: “Individual garages have recognised the impact that this competition has because it’s all based on consumer comment, word-of-mouth.  On a wider, industry level, it’s vitally important that there is an OFT-approved network of garages that customers across the UK can turn to for reliable service.”

Motor Codes subscribers, franchised and independent, are registered automatically and can start directing customers to vote, via www.motorcodes.co.uk, now. A free marketing suite is also available at the website.

A first stage of voting, running until April, will generate a shortlist of top 50 large and small garages, with customers of these businesses then voting to decide the regional garages of the year.  A judging panel, comprising Chris Mason, Ken Gibson, ‘Motors’ editor at The Sun, What Car? consumer editor, Emma Butcher, CAT Magazine editor, Peter Lawton and John Jackson, Havoline’s manager distributors, UK and export, will decide the overall winners.

In return for voting a consumer prize of a year’s free servicing and tickets to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone is on offer.  A garage prize fund including Snap-on vouchers, driving experiences and free Motor Codes subscriptions are available.