IGA offers subsidised MOT training to upskill industry
IGA will offer large subsidies on MOT training for their members from 1 November 2023. These include a 40 per cent reduction in the cost of MOT tester training and a 50 per cent reduction in the cost of MOT manager training for a limited period. “Due to the challenging times we are facing as a sector, the IGA feels it is appropriate to provide support to members and help them with the cost of upskilling their staff, as we enter the busy period for MOTs,” announced Stuart James, IGA chief executive.
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Minister shown money-saving British pothole fixer
Transport Minister Mark Harper was given a live demonstration of a machine which is helping fix Britain’s roads and end the scourge of potholes. The Minister was shown the JCB Pothole Pro during a visit to the company’s Derbyshire engine plant and saw for himself how the machine repairs a pothole in less than eight minutes – four times quicker than standard methods. The demonstration came just days after the company announced it had won its biggest order yet for 50 Pothole Pros from one of the country’s largest hirers, Dawsongroup, for deployment with councils up and down the country.
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Hankook Tyre UK team celebrate NTDA Tyre Industry award double
The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) held its annual conference along with dinner and tyre industry awards on 19 October at the Hilton Double Tree, Stadium MK, Milton Keynes. Around 640 guests witnessed the event as well as presenters English actor, comedian and impressionist Jon Culshaw, NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay and national chairman Simon Wright.
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Continental celebrates Tyre Manufacturer of the Year Award award
Continental is celebrating winning NTDA Tyre Manufacturer of the Year Award 2023. The National Tyre Distributors Association 2023 Tyre Industry Awards were presented on 19th October at the Association’s 94th Annual Dinner, at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Milton Keynes, UK.
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Wheel Solutions appoints new sales manager
Wheel Solutions Ltd has appointed Martin Hair as the company’s new sales manager. Martin Hair joins the company with over 10 years of experience within the industry.
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Vaculug launches sustainablethinking.earth website
Vaculug has a launched a new website, “designed to revolutionize the online tyre shopping experience”. The new website is designed to provide “a comprehensive resource for tyre information and purchases”.
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Bridgestone postcards demonstrate tyre checks as it helps hundreds ‘Become a Road Safety Hero’
Bridgestone spread the tyre safety message to hundreds of motorists across October with free tyre safety checks and postcards at two events during Tyre Safety Month. Bridgestone said it communicated the messages to hundreds of motorists at Roadchef’s Norton Canes Services on the M6 Toll in Staffordshire on 19 October, carrying out free safety checks throughout the day. The company repeated these activities at Ireland’s Japfest in Mondello Park, where it encouraged young drivers to get into the habit of checking their tyres regularly.
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Maverick Diagnostics names Laura Hall as MD
Maverick Diagnostics has appointed Laura Hall as its new managing director. She takes on the role after the previous incumbent, Andy Brooke, assumed new responsibilities within the group.
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Supertracker upgrades STR1 wheel aligner with green lasers
Supertracker has updated its STR1 laser half cab and trolley to feature green lasers. The use of green lasers said to improve the visibility, precision and clarity of the laser line. Green lasers also work in both normal workshop lighting conditions as well as outdoors and over a longer distances, in comparison to the traditional red lasers.
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Avayler: Analysts back ongoing growth
Financial analysts have responded positively to the news of Bridgestone’s investment in Halfords Group’s Avayler Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Their analysis also reveals further details of the current scale and future plans associated with the Avayler business.
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Bridgestone invests $3 million in Halfords’ Avayler system
Bridgestone has invested US$3 million dollars in buying a 5 per cent stake in Halfords Group Plc’s Avayler Software as a service (SaaS) business. The investment therefore values the two-year-old Avayler business at $60 million. Under the associated commercial agreement, which has an initial term of 15 years notwithstanding certain break clauses, Avayler will provide Bridgestone with access to Avayler’s in-garage and van software products as well as certain services to facilitate Bridgestones use of it. These include services relating to maintenance, development, implementation and support. The commercial agreement provides for the roll-out of Avayler’s products across Bridgestone’s retail and van operation in the USA.
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Fleets use independent garages 25% more for four-year-old cars
Fleet use of independent garages is around a quarter higher for company cars and vans aged four years old compared to their one-year-old counterparts, research shows. New data from epyx shows that buying of service, maintenance and repair (SMR) shifts from 30 per cent independent garage and 70 per cent franchise dealer at 1-2 years old to 35:65 at 2-3 years old, 40:60 at 3-4 years old and 38:62 at four years old and over.
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Transaid wins charity grant
Transaid has secured a valuable Movement for Good Award from the Benefact Group, which it will deploy to help save lives by ensuring Ghana’s professional road transport sector continues to grow in a safe and sustainable way. The undisclosed sum forms part of a share of £500,000 being donated by Benefact Group to help charities make a real difference. Transaid joined more than 900 charities applying for the funding after an introduction from the Road Haulage Association, whose insurers, Lloyd White, are part of the Benefact Group.
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Delphi launches Training Prospectus 2.0
Delphi has released a comprehensive new 66-page training prospectus, showcasing the wealth of solutions now available to the UK aftermarket. Delphi’s ‘blended learning’ ethos originated to make it as easy as possible for garages to access learning materials, whilst also taking account of the fact that individuals prefer to absorb information in different ways.
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NFDA survey shows price is the main driver of automotive decisions in the UK
The UK National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), has announced the results of its Consumer Attitude Survey 2023. The NFDA represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, and the results are representative of the population in relation to UK adults aged 18+. The main objectives of the survey were to explore current consumer perceptions of franchised dealers and their competitors as well as understand consumer behaviour.
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