automechanica
Brimingham

By Neil Pattemore

By Adam Bernstein

We live in a highly competitive world where trade is no longer confined to traditional markets. Consumers now come from far and wide and firms are competing with sales from the web as well as the high street; the need to advertise has never been stronger.

Following the Brexit referendum, we are now seeing some of the (inevitable) affects, one of which is a reduction in the value of Sterling against other important currencies. This may be great news for exporters and will not only give the UK economy a lift, but is helping the Stock Exchange reach new highs, based on the larger companies now being able to beneficially use their foreign earnings when re-valuing back into Sterling. So good news all round, or is it? What will be the impact of the devalued pound if you are one of the UK's independent workshops?

An allegation of discrimination in the workplace can create significant problems for employers and, while the total overall number of employment tribunal claims are falling, employers continue to face discrimination complaints on a regular basis.

Many firms now offer staff a uniform as both a form of corporate branding and also as a perk. In providing a uniform, employers have to keep on the right side of HMRC's rules and regulations. While the principles are in theory clear, the devil is, as always, in the detail.

When the new car sales figures for 2015 were announced at the beginning of this year, there was one statistic that seemed to be slightly overlooked. Although it was a tiny majority, petrol vehicles outsold diesel for the first time in five years.

I’ve just finished writing a piece on the digital revolution that is sweeping our industry and I must admit that it has surprised even me! It really is a case that you need to understand how to work online in order to succeed, not just in the automotive industry but in any.

Some of you may have read the article I wrote in the June issue about why you should have considered taking the time out of your business to go to the Automechanika exhibition at the Birmingham NEC. This show was likely to be better than previous shows and came at a time when the rate of change in the industry was increasing. The old adage of ‘knowledge is power’ is ever-more important.

So the results are in, and that appears to be the only thing that is ‘in’ at the moment. After a four-month campaign the UK will be exiting the European Union. Whether it is the right or wrong choice remains to be seen and it is not for me to say, but as it is happening we can all only hope it’s best for the country.

A car cannot pass its MOT without a DPF in place, should it have left the factory with one. This statement is true and has been true since February 2014, yet the MOT is still only a visual check with no parts allowed to be removed for inspection, a loophole that is constantly being exploited by DPF removal companies.

You will be very familiar with the increasingly sophisticated vehicle technology as more and more software related functions are implemented by the vehicle manufacturers, yet this creates a range of challenges when repairing the vehicle.

The Christmas cheer is well and truly behind us and the realities of business life need to be addressed to see if 2016 can be better than 2015.

The IAAF annual conference in 2015 ran under the title ‘Survive and thrive’, indicating to the industry that the aftermarket can succeed if it overcomes the challenges that have been put in its way.

The rate at which the modern car is developing to include new functions based on new technologies is exponential.

Sitting in front of me is an MOT certificate for my Focus ST170, handwritten. It's the first handwritten certificate I've had in a very long time and if I didn't know better, I'd think the MOT system has gone backwards as a result.

By Neil Pattemore

By Neil Pattemore

By Andy Vickery

By Neil Pattemore

By Phil Curry

There's a little advertising and marketing ditty that I remember from way back, probably to at least the early 80s, that related to producing marketing material for clients - it went: 'If the client moans and sighs, make his logo twice the size; If he still should prove refractory, show a picture of his factory; But only in the direst case, should the client show his face!'

By Phil Curry

By Neil Pattemore

By Neil Pattemore

The IAAF is one of the industry bodies at the forefront of protecting the independent aftermarket from the challenges coming up from the vehicle manufactures (VMs). Chief Executive Wendy Williamson discussed how the IAAF is working in Europe.

By Mike Owen

By Neil Pattemore

January

January

By Neil Pattemore

By Andy Vickery

By Mike Owen

By Neil Pattemore

If I showed a Nokia 5110 to a teenager they would probably ask what it is. If I told them it was a mobile phone, they may laugh and will probably ask how many apps it has or whether it is 4G enabled. Technology moves at a frightening pace and older components are quickly forgotten. If you want that Nokia repaired you would need a specialist.

By Andy Vickery

By Neil Pattemore

There is more to oil than simply putting it in the filler cap and making sure the levels are correct. It lubricates, reduces friction and helps an engine to perform at the peak of its power.

By Andy Vickery

By Neil Pattemore

Last month, we reported about the scare over the potential split of MOT and servicing workshops, with the EU already having passed legislation on roadworthiness and not including any such proposal.

Last month, we ran a story concerning an update to the Castrol Trend Tracker, showing a decrease in the market share of the independent workshop. Meanwhile, the franchise dealer sector held its share, its first non-decline in seven years.

By Neil Pattemore

The world is much more digital today than it was even a decade ago. The invention of the smartphone has meant that individuals always have an online presence and are able to write and interact with many more people than ever before.

The city of Glasgow is currently undergoing a large redevelopment programme. The old high-rise flats are being torn down, a new hospital is being built and the commonwealth games are just around the corner.