Today, Thatcham Research announces an evolution of its partnership with Bodyshop Magazine's prestigious annual awards programme.
For the first time, Thatcham Research's Automotive Academy will host all the practical assessments for the awards from Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 July, providing the opportunity for skilled technicians to showcase their expertise across a range of automotive repair disciplines.
The partnership reflects Thatcham Research's commitment to driving innovation, shaping industry standards, and highlighting the critical role of efficient vehicle damage assessment and repair in enabling sustainable motoring and keeping total cost of ownership affordable for drivers.
The disciplines to be assessed will include:
- Powered by asTech-Bodyshop Thatcham Advanced Technologies Technician of the Year
- Powered by IAEA-Bodyshop Thatcham Vehicle Damage Assessor of the Year
- Powered by Vizion-Bodyshop Thatcham Paint and Panel Technicians of the Year
Three separate apprentice categories will celebrate the young talent found in our industry including:
- Powered by Vizion-Bodyshop Thatcham Paint and Panel Apprentices of the Year
- Powered by asTech-Bodyshop Thatcham Mechanical Electrical and Trim (MET) Apprentice of the Year
The IMI recently revealed a decline in MET apprentice numbers, underscoring the importance of fostering the next generation of professionals to secure the future of the sector.
The Bodyshop Magazine Awards celebrate outstanding technical proficiency in automotive repair, showcasing the highest standards of skill and precision, with technicians performing at the peak of their specialism.
As an active automotive research centre and leading training provider, Thatcham Research plays a critical role in strengthening the repair sector—advancing vehicle damageability and repairability research, and equipping professionals with the skills needed to navigate the evolving landscape of automotive repair.
Dean Lander, head of repair sector services at Thatcham Research, said: “I am proud that for the first time, our Automotive Academy will host all the practical assessments for the Bodyshop Magazine Awards.
“This expansion of our partnership with Bodyshop Magazine highlights our dedication to amplifying the achievements of industry professionals and leading the sector in repair best-practice and innovation.
“I look forward to welcoming the finalists to our site next month. It will be a real privilege to witness the passion, precision, and pride these professionals bring to the future of vehicle repair.”
Simon Wait, editor of Bodyshop Magazine, said: “Each year we work hard to raise the bar across all of our awards, especially the technical categories as we make them more exciting and more challenging for the competitors. In order to lift the technical categories to yet another level this year there was only one choice for our practical assessments – and that was to move everything to the impressive Thatcham Research Automotive Academy.”
Through its Vehicle Risk Rating system, launched in September 2024, Thatcham Research champions repair-friendly vehicles, encouraging manufacturers to consider ease of repair as a core design attribute. This approach supports more sustainable vehicle lifecycles and helps maintain the viability of the repair sector by reducing the number of vehicles declared Total Loss.
