Will Rimell

Three lucky winners could drive away with a new brand new Volkswagen Up by simply ordering NGK products before January 31 2014. The latest promotion from the spark plug manufacturer has sees it team up with Unipart Automotive to offer independent garages the chance to win a number of instant prizes from a scratch card.

Autodata has snared another prolific software counterfeiter in south of England with the help of Trading Standards. The suspect who was arrested for piracy and distribution of illegal software, was apprehended in a combined operation between Autodata, Southampton Police and Slough, Monmouthshire and Southampton Trading Standards.

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) and the Independent Garage Association (IGA) are aiming to bolster SME’s involvement in apprenticeships. Dr Paul Spears, Head of Return on Investment Programme at the IMI will deliver a presentation focusing on the return on investment and the financial benefit that garages and workshops can receive from being involved in apprenticeships, by referring to some key findings from a recent IMI investment study.

Voting for the 2014 CAT Awards is now open! It is now time to show your support to those nominees shortlisted, who you feel deserve recognition from the aftermarket

BM Catalysts was named the Family Business of the Year at the Midlands Family Business Awards 2013. The Nottinghamshire-based company has won the accolade for the second-year running, after demonstrating again its ability to continue with its development, success, commitment to innovation and excellent governance

Carrying on the Inside Line series, we move on from looking at the Renault Clio and turn our attention to the Volkswagen Polo. Now in its fifth generation it remains one of the most popular small cars on the road.

Husband and wife team Matt and Gill Hanson talk CAT through how a 10-year-old’s dream became a reality in new state-of-the-art facilities. Starting an independent garage is not easy at the best of times, but making the jump from working on your own to employing a team is very much another, as Matt and Gill Hanson will testify

BM Catalysts has been shortlisted in the Family Business of the Year category of the Midlands Family Business Awards 2013. The company, which employs up to 300 staff, has been nominated for continuing development, success, commitment to innovation and excellent governance.

More than a fifth of three to 10 year old cars are brought back to franchised workshops for service, maintenance and repair, despite it costing owners up to 35 percent more in labour rates

A new workshop poster campaign is being rolled out by the Original Equipment Suppliers Aftermarket Association to deliver its messages about OE parts direct to independent garages in the UK and Ireland