CAT Awards 2026: Shortlist released

The shortlist has been released for the CAT Awards 2026 following hundreds of entries.

There are 12 gongs up for grabs and winners will be announced at a ceremony at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel on 26 February. 

Three awards are chosen by you: Supplier of the Year, Industry Partner of the Year, and Garage Concept of the Year. To vote, click here.

The deadline for votes is Friday, January 16.

For tickets to the awards ceremony, click here.

CAT AWARDS 2026 SHORTLIST

FACTOR CHAIN OF THE YEAR

This category was open to all light vehicle and CV motor factors, both independent, chain and VM-owned, regardless of the number of branches. We called for suppliers and garages alike to tell us stories about how they had received excellent treatment.

• Arnold Clark Autoparts
• GSF Car Parts
• LKQ Euro Car Parts
• Motor Parts Direct
• Value Car Parts

FACTOR BRANCH TEAM OF THE YEAR

Working behind the parts counter can be frantic and there is always another target to hit, but delivering excellent customer service must be paramount. Our readers put forward a number of branch teams that all pull together to make the impossible happen.

• Spartan Motor Factors – Weston
• Rays Garage Supplies
• Alan Quine Ltd
• Leisureways
• Arnold Clark Autoparts – Bilston

TRAINING SCHEME OF THE YEAR

Now in its third year, this award is open to all of the many courses and events available to people in the aftermarket. Judging this award has been tricky, but we’ve been considering the greatest benefit vs cost to trainees.

• Delphi Academy
• LKQ Academy
• Technical Topics
• The Fleet Guy
• Workshop Pro Training

INDEPENDENT GARAGE OF THE YEAR

There are many garage awards in the industry, but this is the one that everyone wants to win. This award was open to all comers, whether independent, or a branch of a chain, as long as particularly good customer service is offered and technical excellence.

• Ferdotti Motor Services
• In Town Automotive
• J Day Engineering
• Lindleys Autocentres
• Markhams Garage
• MB Motors Rugeley
• Uckfield Motor Services

RETAILER OR SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

First presented in the early 1980s, the newly renamed Retailer or Service Provider of the Year is the oldest award in our line-up. It has not been an easy few years for those in retail, so we’ve been looking for some of the most inspiring stories that have blossomed despite the barraging headwinds.

• Autowave
• GSF Car Parts
• LKQ Euro Car Parts
• Motor Parts Direct
• Parts In Motion
• Repairify UK
• Wilco Motor Spares 

ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

This is a special award for an individual that has made an outstanding contribution to the sector, either during the year in review or throughout their career. We consider nominations for people who work, or have worked at any level in the automotive aftermarket.

• Our winner will be announced at the ceremony

RISING STAR

The Rising Star award celebrates people who are up and coming in the automotive industry, regardless of their background. In previous years, this award has gone to students of FE colleges who have come from diverse and often underprivileged backgrounds.

• Barry Standen – Pro-Tech Automotive
• Matthew Hume – A1 ADAS Solutions
• Harnek Bhogal – Autoelectro

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD

You might have heard about the ‘circular economy’ where things are refurbished and resold. That’s something that the aftermarket has been doing for many years, and now we’re celebrating those positive impacts on the world with this award, now in its second year.

• Autoelectro – remanufacturing and circular economy
• Banner Batteries – battery manufacturing and recycling
• Cleevely EV Mobile – electrification push and second life components
• Exol Lubricants – Rotherham blending plant
• Neol Copper Technologies – CuGlide additive

INNOVATION AWARD

Launched in 2025, the Innovation Award recognises and celebrates innovation that has taken a part of the aftermarket to the next stage, whether that is towards the sector’s EV future, streamlining a well-established process, or more.

• Garage Services Online – RampUp
• LKQ Europe – LKQ SYNETIQ
• NOCO – AL5/AX65
• OSRAM – LEDinspect 3-in-1 Inspection Light Kit
• Ring Automotive – Ultrainflate 20
• The Fleet Guy – Fleet Guy Certification

INDUSTRY PARTNER OF THE YEAR

• A1 ADAS Solutions
• Factor Sales
• Garage Services Online
• Independent Garage Association (IGA)
• Glen Callum Associates
• Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF)
• Motornomic
• TechMan
• The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

• Delphi Autoparts
• FAI Auto Parts
• First Line
• GS Yuasa
• Intermotor Group
• JRP Distribution
• Juratek
• Motor Parts Direct
• Schaeffler UK
• UPG UK & Ireland
• WAI UK

GARAGE CONCEPT OF THE YEAR

• 1TEC Auto Hub (LKQ Euro Car Parts)
• AutoCare Network
• Bosch Car Service
• Castrol Service Network
• Eurorepar Car Service Network