IGA wins COVID-19 Member Support Award

23 February 2022  

The IGA has won the Crisis Management – Covid Member Support award at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2022, for their work to help the UK independent garage sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now in its 19th year, the Trade Association Forum (TAF) Best Practice Awards 2022 are supported by the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, and recognise excellence, innovation and best practice among trade associations in the UK.

Commenting on the win, IGA CEOO Stuart James said: “It is an honour to receive this award and we are delighted that our ongoing efforts to guide garages throughout this very difficult time have been recognised.”

He continued: “When the pandemic struck, we did everything in our power to arm independent garages with the knowledge they needed to operate safely, comply with daily changes to regulations and restrictions, access government support, and keep their businesses afloat.

“We are extremely proud of our achievements, which include helping a great many garages claim Retail Business Rate Relief, offering COVID-compliance audits to reassure the public that garages are safe, and ensuring that all garages had access to an online library of easy-to-understand resources. We also successfully lobbied to end the dangerous MOT extension and introduce a flexible furlough scheme, which protected countless road users and small businesses throughout the country.”

Stuart added: “As the UK’s largest and oldest trade body for independent garages, we will always be here to support and lobby for the sector in times of need.”

The awards ceremony was held on Thursday 17 February 2022 at Drapers’ Hall, London.