FAQ’s
Hope Jepson 25 November 2024 General Questions
What is the purpose of the competition?
Our mission is to celebrate Aftermarket excellence. Big and Small!
Who can enter? Are there any specific eligibility criteria?
Please see Terms & Conditions for specific eligibility criteria.
Is there an entry fee?
No, the competition is completely free to all entrants.
What are the benefits of entering the competition?
Opportunity to develop skills, network, level- up your business plan, receive feedback on process and procedures. Local and national publicity, trade press and local press. Meet with suppliers and get hands on with new products and services.
Celebrate at the awards evening among peers and industry leaders.
How does the competition work? What are the different stages?
Each of the competitions work around a similar framework but have slightly different dates and round lengths. Generally the opening rounds are all online until semi-finals for Technicians and the finals for Garages and Apprentices. Where in-person tasks and interviews are conducted.
How long does the competition process take?
The whole competition lasts around 10 months through all the stages. For dates check out the specific competition pages.
What happens if I get through to the finals?
You’ll be invited down to Delphi Academy in Warwick for Finals day, either for an interview (Top Garage) or Technical Tasks (Top Apprentice/Technician), where you’ll go head to head with other likeminded finalists.
Finals day will also include a mini-table top exhibition of products and services from all of our partners and sponsors of the current years competition – which is open to all to attend.
What kind of prizes or recognition is awarded to winners?
Each finalist will receive a framed certificate. Winner will also receive a winner certificate and a glass trophy. All winners will also be rewards with a prize.
Prizes vary year on year and are kindly donated by our event partners, past prizes have varied from coffee machines, diagnostics kit, race days, lego and even a weekend away.
For Technicians & Garages
Do I need to be a master technician or have specific qualifications to enter?
No, specific qualifications are required. We welcome Technicians of all skill levels, at all points in their career – other than those that lead training sessions for other technicians.
How will my technical skills or business practices be tested?
Technical skills will be measured through the multiple choice and open-ended questions in the Top Technician opening rounds and live in-person fault finding exercises at the semi-finals and finals.
Business practices will be measured in Top Garage through some standards practices which should be relevant to businesses of all sizes.
Can I enter as an individual (for Top Technician) and as part of my business (for Top Garage)?
Yes, should you be both technically and business minded – you can enter both competitions.
Do I need to be an independent garage, or can franchised garages also enter?
Top Garage’s purpose is to recognise independents. However, should you have technicians and/or apprentices from a franchised garages they would be applicable to enter.
What kind of feedback will I receive if I don’t win?
Should you become a finalist you will receive in-depth written personal feedback on your interview or tasks executed, from your judges. We are in the process of building in more quality feedback to the early rounds, this should come in the form of questions answered incorrectly.
Will participating in this competition help my career or business? If so, how?
Top Technician & Top Garage competition is nationwide, not only can it give you a new perspective on your business the finals day and awards evening, is an excellent opportunity to network with the best minds in the sector.
Both day and evening events are open to all in the trade whether a finalist or not. You can purchase tickets to this year’s Awards Evening here.
What are judges looking for in a Top Technician or Top Garage?
In Top Technician, the judges are looking for sound diagnostic process, ability to problem solve under pressure, whilst adhering to health and safety processes. Technical guidance is provided to all technicians needing help around software they haven’t used before – providing they can express what they would like the tool to achieve.
In Top Garage, the judges are looking for businesses with ambition, sound process including ROI evaluation, a website that performs well from the perspective of their customer and a succinct and impactful presentation of their business in 3 minutes or less.
Our judges are a collaboration of industry minds and representatives from the competitions event partners.
Is this competition relevant for smaller garages, or is it aimed at larger operations?
Top Garage is aimed at businesses of all sizes, with a relevant category for each, and we encourage all to put their name into the hat. Mobile Mechanic is our newest addition to the Top Garage categories looking to recognise those one-man mechanic bands – without premises repairing on customers doorsteps.
Can I nominate a colleague or employee to enter the competition?
Yes, of course – you can nominate them 1 of 2 ways.
Send us an email with the nominee’s email address and name and why you’d like to nominate them. And we’ll send a bespoke email to them inviting them to register themselves.
Send them the link to the website and invite them to register themselves.
For Apprentices
Who qualifies for the Top Apprentice competition?
Are either a current Level 2 or Level 3 apprentice studying at a college or academy in the UK
Employer approval to allow participants to compete and potentially attend events.
Any apprentices under the age of 18 – will be required to have a parental consent form completed and returned in order to progress.
Do I need my employer or college’s support to participate?
Yes, college tutors email address for apprenticeship verification, will be required.
What types of tasks or challenges will be part of the competition?
Top Apprentice competition will involve 3 rounds. The initial 2 rounds are online consisting of a combination of multiple choice and open ended questions and answers.
The 3rd round is on finals day held at Delphi Academy, Warwick, where Apprentice’s will be put to the test with a series of 5 knowledge appropriate tasks, varying between physical tasks, knowledge tests or role plays. Each task will take around 30-40 minutes, finalists will have a dedicated judge on each station to help them advance through the task and assist with any equipment usage where needed.
Will entering impact my apprenticeship or studies in any way?
No, Top Apprentice should help you develop your skills rather than hinder your studies.
Are there mentorship or networking opportunities for apprentices?
Yes, there are ample networking opportunities for apprentices. On finals day there will be representatives from all our event partners and sponsors and a series of guest judges from industry. Top Technician & Top Garage prides itself on being a community vibe.
Logistics & Practical Questions
How do I register to enter?
When the competition opens you can register at https://toptech.alianskills.com
Find the relevant voucher code on the competition website page you wish to enter and load up your questions.
Where are the different stages of the competition held?
Top Technician
Rounds 1 – 3 are online.
Semi-finals are in-person at Delphi Academy.
Finals are in-person at Delphi Academy. Top Technician dates see here
Top Garage, Service Advisor and Apprentice
Round 1 and 2 (semi-finals) are online
Finals are in-person at Delphi Academy. Top Garage dates see here. Top Apprentice dates see here
Will entering require me to travel? If so, are travel expenses covered?
It will only require you to travel if you make it through to the finals, Aftermarket is not liable to cover expenses of finalists.
Do I need to prepare anything before the competition?
Should there be anything required to prepare for finals or semi-finals, we will notify you with acceptable warning.
What happens if I must withdraw after entering?
We understand that sometimes life gets in the way – you can withdraw at any stage of the competition. We only ask that you give us as much warning as possible. So where possible we can open your space to the next qualifying individual/business.
Can I enter next year if I don’t qualify this year?
Yes, providing you or your business still meet the requirement for the competition, we welcome re-entries. You cannot re-enter however should you have won Top Technician in the past.
Misc Questions
What organisations or brands are supporting the competition?
Some example of previous supporters of the competition are:
Snap-on, Topdon, JLM, Delphi, LKQ Euro Car Parts, Castrol & The Race Group, ALLDATA, MOTUL, VARTA, TPS, Book My Garage, TechMan and more…
For the current partners click here
Is the competition judged fairly, and who are the judges?
Each interview is judged by a pair of independent judges, each with their own judging criteria that is combined and reviewed throughout the day. Top Garage also comprised of scores for a written task and mystery shops prior to the awards.
Will entering this competition generate publicity for my business?
Yes, at Aftermarket we shout about finalists and winners, and our event partners do the same. The competition is recognised across the industry as the one to win – therefore the extra publicity generated can help you network with suppliers, local garages and had gone as far as local press on many occasions to extend to your customer base.
What does being a finalist mean for my professional reputation?
Making the finals is an incredible achievement whichever category or competition you’ve entered. Top Technician, Top Garage and Top Apprentice are national competitions brought to you by Aftermarket magazine, the benefit of this is a wider audience and competitor base from a truly independent standpoint – with entrants not limited by associations, products or services.
Are there sponsorship or collaboration opportunities for businesses?
Yes, there are a variety of sponsorship opportunities available to suit all budgets.
Should you wish to find out how you can get involved please email Hope Jepson, Marketing Manager hope.jepson@dfamedia.co.uk
How can I prepare to maximise my chances of winning?
- Master the Fundamentals
Technical Excellence: Revise core automotive concepts—diagnostics, repairs, and system troubleshooting.
Practical Skills: Practice real-world tasks, such as advanced fault finding, EV diagnostics, or ADAS calibrations.
Stay Current: Learn about emerging trends like EVs, hybrids, and the latest tools and software.
- Focus on Knowledge
Theoretical Depth: Brush up on your technical manuals, service data, and industry best practices.
Sector Insights: Stay informed on key challenges and opportunities within the industry.
- Develop Soft Skills
Communication: Practice explaining your work clearly, whether to customers or judges.
Professionalism: Demonstrate a calm, confident, and solution-focused approach under pressure.
Teamwork (Garage/Apprentice): Show collaborative problem-solving and leadership in team-based tasks.
- Understand the Competition
Familiarise yourself with the competition structure, and key expectations.
- Leverage Support
Mentors and Trainers: Seek guidance from experienced professionals to identify and address skill gaps.
Mock Tests: Simulate competition scenarios to practice under time and performance pressure.
- Present Professionally
First Impressions: Dress appropriately, maintain a positive attitude, and showcase pride in your work.
Pay attention to small details that could set you apart from competitors.
- Stay Organized and Ready
Preparation: Ensure you have the right tools, knowledge, and mindset to perform at your best.
Confidence: Stay calm, embrace challenges, and focus on problem-solving to impress the judges.
- Learn and Network
Engage: Interact with industry experts, judges, and peers to broaden your understanding.
Feedback: Use post-competition insights to continually improve your skills.
What happens to my data after I enter? Is it shared with third parties?
After the competition, your data is stored within the Aftermarket database, where we will only inform you of relevant Top Tech & Top Garage updates and send you the latest digital edition of the magazine should you request it.
We only put you in touch with sponsors and event parnters should you wish to be contacted.