Delphi Academy proudly hosted the finals of the 2024 Top Technician and Top Garage competitions on October 26th, celebrating the incredible skill and dedication of UK technicians and garage owners at its newly expanded training facility in Warwick.
This year’s event drew the top contenders from a highly competitive field, with more than 400 workshops and 1,000 technicians from across the country applying to compete.
“It was fantastic to showcase our new facilities during this year’s Top Technician and Top Garage finals,” said Luke Garratt, UK Technical Services Manager at Delphi. “These competitions are instrumental in raising industry standards. It aligns perfectly with our commitment to supporting the industry, empowering workshops to meet the evolving demands of today’s vehicles.”
Marking Delphi’s third year as host, the event offers a dynamic platform for technicians to demonstrate technical expertise and for garage owners to showcase their business acumen.
Top Technician spans five rounds, beginning with three online stages of multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Next, 10 semi-finalists faced a half-day of timed, practical fault-finding tasks at Delphi Academy. For the fifth and final, five finalists completed a full day of advanced fault-finding challenges, each with a 50-minute time limit.
Top Garage consists of three rounds, with the first two held online, featuring a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Finalists advanced to Delphi Academy, where business owners and service advisors participated in in-depth interviews with leading industry judges, alongside opportunities for networking and exploring the Academy’s facilities.
“Delphi Academy is the ideal home for this competition, it’s a genuinely impressive place – shiny and welcoming”, said Miriam English of Torque Monkey in Chelmsford. “It’s a great place to gather, learn, and network with others who are just as passionate about the industry.”
The Top Technician and Top Garage competitions will return to Delphi Academy in 2025, reinforcing the Academy’s role as a central hub for advanced automotive training and skill development.
“The competition is more than just a title; it’s about pushing ourselves to be better every day,” said James Breading of Peter Breading Motor Services in Essex. “It raises the standards of our business and the entire industry, encouraging continuous improvement and innovation.”
Following the intense finals at Delphi Academy, judges, garage owners, and technicians reconvened at Coventry’s DoubleTree by Hilton for the eagerly awaited awards evening.
“Delphi Academy is an outstanding venue that truly reflects the skill and innovation this competition celebrates,” said Ryan Fuller, Competition Organiser. “With the impressive new expansion, we were honoured to be among the first to experience the new facilities. With Delphi’s support, we’re raising industry standards across the board.”
For additional information about Top Technician and Top Garage, please visit https://aftermarketonline.net/toptechnician-topgarage/. To learn more about Delphi Academy’s training opportunities, visit https://www.delphiautoparts.com/gbr/en/training/training.
Top Garage 2024 winners
Mobile Mechanic: John Hall Auto Electrician
1-3 Employees: Torque Monkey
4-6 Employees: Links Automotive
7-9 Employees Fife Autotech
10+ Employees: D & D Autos (Ashford)
Multi-site: CCM
Service advisors: Sharon McCormick, CCM Ewhurst
Top Technician 2024
Winner: Andrew Ruellan, Ruellans Garage
Runner up: David Weston, Kia UK, Ltd.