We didn’t pick up the gong this time, but we were absolutely thrilled to have made the final of Automechanika “Garage of the Year 2023” hosted by the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF). Automechanika, held at the NEC in Birmingham, is the UKs largest trade event for the Automotive Aftermarket.

“Garage of the Year” is the headline award in the prestigious competition, which recognizes the best garages in the UK, and Oldfields has been selected as one of the top seven garages in the country.

The Automechanika Garage of the Year competition is judged by industry experts, who assess the quality of the garage’s work, customer service, and business practices and then pass it over to the public to vote for the overall winner, with the winner being announced at a special ceremony on 7th June 2023.

Tim Benson, Director of Oldfields Garage Services, expressed his excitement about reaching the final: “We are really chuffed to be named as a finalist for Garage of the Year 2023. It’s a fantastic recognition of the hard work and dedication of our team, who are committed to providing the highest quality service to our customers. We pride ourselves on our customer service and attention to detail, and this nomination is a testament to that.” He added that “We’ll be flying the flag for Herefordshire. There are some fantastic garages among our category, we may be smallest in the category but we’ll give it our best shot.”

Oldfields Garage Services has been providing car maintenance and repair services to the Leominster community for over 30 years. With a team of experienced technicians and state-of-the-art equipment, the garage offers a range of services, including MOT testing, servicing, and repairs.

About the awards…
The Garage of the Year award category recognises garages and aftermarket service outlets that have delivered exceptional service over the past twelve months and demonstrate high calibre business acumen to navigate the challenges of operating a thriving business in 2023 and beyond.

This includes proof of awareness and understanding of profit and loss, the difference between gross, operating, and net profit, and why the difference between mark up and margin is important for a business but ultimately delivers value for customers. The recipient of the Garage of the Year award will have demonstrated proficiency and a proactive approach in marketing, social media use and local community outreach.

The Garage of the Year will be identifiable with a team or individual delivering business performance transparency, meetings with suppliers and customers, and implementation of specific corporate governance policies such as complaints procedures, duty of care, and environmental awareness.