Press Releases

IGA 01/04/2026

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) today confirms that the SERMI scheme is now officially live in the UK, marking a defining moment for the independent garage sector.

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IGA 20/03/2026

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is helping independent garages navigate the SERMI scheme ahead of its UK launch on the 1st April. SERMI provides a secure and recognised route to access vehicle security-related information, ensuring independent garages can work on modern vehicles safely and efficiently.

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IGA 05/02/2026

Following the announcement on the 2 February of the SERMI go-live date in the UK, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) has confirmed an overwhelmingly positive response from vehicle manufacturers, with 19 brands committing to the SERMI scheme within days of being notified of approval. Further manufacturers are expected to follow.

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IGA 02/02/2026

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has confirmed that the European SERMI scheme will officially go live in the UK on 1st April, marking a historic breakthrough for independent garages nationwide.

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IGA 21/01/2026

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has announced it has achieved full approval for the European SERMI scheme in the UK, marking a landmark breakthrough for the independent automotive repair sector.

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IGA 08/01/2026

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is responding to the growing national focus on vehicle safety technology, following the Government’s new Road Safety Strategy which identifies Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) as a key tool in reducing collisions and serious injuries on UK roads.

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IGA 06/01/2026

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) supports independent garages as they prepare for the Employment Rights Act 2025, which is now in force. However, the most significant provisions affecting members will be phased in from April 2026.

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IGA 26/11/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has reviewed the measures announced in today’s Autumn Budget by the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. While the decision to fully fund apprenticeships for under-25s in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a welcome and positive step, much of the remaining Budget provides limited reassurance for independent garages across the sector.

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IGA 17/11/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is delighted to announce a 22% increase in membership during 2025, bringing the association’s community to more than 4500. This marks a significant milestone in the organisation’s continued commitment to supporting the independent garage sector.

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IGA 03/11/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is proud to continue its work with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in supporting the national ‘Fake Always Breaks’ campaign, which highlights the dangers of counterfeit vehicle parts and the importance of vigilance across the motor trade.

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IGA 16/10/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has welcomed confirmation from the Department for Transport (DfT) that it is reviewing the MOT test fee and will consult with stakeholders later this year.

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IGA 26/09/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has announced the launch of RMI Insurance Services, a new, wholly owned and independent insurance broker dedicated exclusively to the automotive sector.

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IGA 25/09/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has reinforced its commitment to the automotive community by presenting a £10,000 donation to Ben, the automotive industry charity, during the 2025 British Independent Garage (BIG) Awards.

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IGA 15/09/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has written to Keir Mather MP, opening lines of communication and reinforcing the urgent issues facing independent garages as a result of the stagnant MOT fee.

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IGA 15/09/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is proud to announce that the 2025 British Independent Garage of the Year Awards (BIG Awards) was the most spectacular event in its history.

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IGA 15/09/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is delighted to announce a landmark partnership between its specialist subsidiary, the Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Repair Alliance (HEVRA) and Solera Autodata. This groundbreaking collaboration will redefine how independent garages access the technical knowledge and expert guidance needed to service hybrid and electric vehicles.

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IGA 03/09/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is calling on businesses across the UK automotive sector to register early for the Security-related Repair and Maintenance Information (SERMI) scheme, following last week’s announcement of its forthcoming launch.

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IGA 28/08/2025

CaptiThe Independent Garage Association (IGA) celebrates a landmark step towards accreditation, paving the way for industry-wide transformation.on...

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IGA 28/08/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is delighted to announce the launch of RMI Insurance Services, a new independent insurance broker owned by the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI).

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IGA 20/08/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has responded to Transport for London’s (TfL) consultation on the Congestion Charge. While recognising the need for measures to improve air quality and encourage cleaner vehicles, the IGA is concerned the proposals could inadvertently penalise independent garages and the motorists who rely on them.

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IGA 06/08/2025

Independent garages have long built trusted relationships with their customers by delivering honest advice and high-quality service. To build on this foundation, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) is encouraging garages to make the most of their Trust My Garage (TMG) membership offering increased visibility, national recognition, and an extra layer of reassurance for customers.

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IGA 31/07/2025

An unprecedented endorsement of excellence in customer service from the UK’s leading road safety agency. The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is proud to announce that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will be the official sponsor of the prestigious Customer Choice Award at this year’s British Independent Garage of the Year Awards (BIG Awards), taking place in September.

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IGA 13/06/2025

Having reflected on the Chancellor’s Spending Review, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) welcomes the focus on economic growth, particularly the commitment to regional investment and the enhancement of technical education. However, they are concerned that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), long described as the backbone of the UK economy, may once again have been overlooked.

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IGA 07/05/2025

In a remarkable display of resilience and dedication, Rob Collison, Chairman of the Independent Garage Association (IGA), has completed a gruelling Sahara Desert trek in support of the automotive industry charity, BEN. This extraordinary achievement comes in the wake of his personal battle with stage 4 cancer, a journey that has inspired many within and beyond the automotive community.

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IGA 16/04/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has formally submitted its response to the Department of Infrastructure's (DfI) 2025 consultation regarding the proposed introduction of biennial MOT testing (4-2-2) in Northern Ireland.

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IGA 15/04/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is delighted to announce that Jon Culshaw will host this year’s British Independent Garage of the Year Awards (BIG Awards) – a flagship event dedicated to highlighting success across the independent garage sector.

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IGA 07/04/2025

Despite repeated calls for targeted support, independent garages once again find themselves overlooked at a time when rising costs continue to escalate across the sector.

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IGA 27/03/2025

Stuart James, Chief Executive of the Independent Garage Association (IGA), comments on the Spring Statement delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, noting any impact on the independent garage sector across the UK.

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IGA 07/03/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is thrilled to announce that tickets for the British Independent Garage (BIG) Awards 2025 are now available. This year’s highly anticipated event will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Friday, 12 September 2025. As the premier awards ceremony for the independent garage sector, the BIG Awards offer an evening dedicated to recognising and celebrating outstanding achievements across the industry. Tickets are available for just £90 + VAT per person, making it the perfect opportunity to reward your team with an unforgettable night out while networking with some of the best in the business.  

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IGA 26/02/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is calling on independent garage owners and operators to provide critical input ahead of a key meeting regarding the long-standing MOT fee freeze and the financial impact of the recent Autumn Budget.

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IGA 26/02/2025

In a world where independent garages are feeling the pinch from a new round of costs, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) is stepping up to advocate for these dedicated business owners.

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IGA 05/02/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is pleased to announce they have been invited to a meeting by The Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood MP, to discuss the critical financial challenges posed by the stagnant MOT fee cap, which has not seen an increase in over 14 years.  

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IGA 28/01/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is encouraging independent garages across the sector to submit their entries for the British Independent Garage (BIG) Awards 2025. The entry deadline has been set for the 21 March 2025. This year’s ceremony will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Friday 12 September 2025, offering an unforgettable evening dedicated to celebrating the very best in the independent garage industry.

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IGA 27/01/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is urging independent garage owners to prioritise succession planning as a vital component of their business strategy.

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IGA 15/01/2025

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is delighted to confirm that the British Independent Garage (BIG) Awards 2025 will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, on Friday, 12 September.

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IGA 27/12/2024

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is pleased to announce its participation in Automechanika Birmingham 2025, set to take place at the NEC from 3rd to 5th June. Automechanika Birmingham is a cornerstone event for the UK’s automotive aftermarket, bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and professionals to explore the latest trends and advancements in the sector.

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IGA 18/12/2024

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is excited to announce the return of the British Independent Garage (BIG) Awards in 2025. Following last year’s incredible success, where winners walked away with cash prizes and generous rewards, thanks to the support of generous sponsors, this year’s awards promise to be even more extraordinary. With 15 categories available for entry – including popular returning favourites and a few exciting new additions – the BIG Awards 2025 will spotlight exceptional talent from every corner of the industry. Whether you’re a customer service champion, a pioneer in training and development, a successful apprentice on the rise, or a business manager achieving remarkable growth and success, a specialist garage worth recognising or one that shines across the board, there’s a category for you.

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IGA 18/12/2024

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has followed up in its lobbying efforts by highlighting the significant financial strain caused by the stagnant MOT fee cap - which has remained unchanged for over 14 years - by writing to the new Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander MP and also Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood MP. The static MOT fee and rising operational costs poses a serious economic risk to the garage sector. This issue has been aggravated by rising inflation and additional cost burdens introduced in the last 14 years, including the recent autumn budget.

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IGA 21/11/2024

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has written to Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh MP to highlight the significant financial strain caused by the stagnant MOT fee cap, which has remained unchanged for over 14 years. This issue has been aggravated by rising inflation and additional burdens introduced in recent budgets.  

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IGA 05/11/2024

“We acknowledge the Government’s Budget initiatives aimed at fostering growth for small businesses, including independent garages. However, amidst some positive steps, the IGA is urging the government to address critical areas of concern that may hamper the automotive sector’s ability to thrive in the coming years.” said Stuart James, Chief Executive of the Independent Garage Association (IGA). 

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IGA 18/07/2024

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is thrilled to announce that the esteemed TV personality Mark Durden-Smith will be hosting the highly anticipated BIG Awards 2024. The event is scheduled for September 20, 2024, at the prestigious Hilton Birmingham Metropole, The NEC Birmingham. This year’s awards ceremony is poised to be a night to remember, uniting over 60 finalists across 17 finalist categories to celebrate excellence in the independent garage sector.  

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IGA 17/07/2024

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has responded to today’s King’s Speech. The speech outlined the government's legislative programme, focusing on security, fairness, and opportunity for all, with measures to boost economic growth, improve corporate governance, and enhance employment rights.

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IGA 05/06/2024

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is pleased to announce that Jon Douglass, Head of Member Services, will be a featured speaker at the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event 2024. The event will be held at the NEC Birmingham, and Jon’s session is scheduled for Day 1, Wednesday 5 June, from 10:00 to 10:25 AM.  

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IGA 25/09/2023

Celebrating excellence in the independent garage sector, the BIG Awards 2023, hosted by the Independent Garage Association (IGA), was once again a huge success. This year's award winners took home a share of a £50,000 prize pot, with each award winner receiving a £1,000 cash prize from the IGA. Caption...

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IGA 21/09/2023

Following the government's decision to extend the timeline for the ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) is pleased to welcome the approach, allowing for much-needed time to address the challenges related to electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and the affordability of EVs, particularly in the face of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.  

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IGA 02/08/2023

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is pleased to announce the opening of enrolment for the Security-related Repair Maintenance Information (SERMI) scheme in the United Kingdom. All UK Independent Operators (IO’s) and Remote Service Suppliers (RSS) are invited to register for the scheme in anticipation of its full implementation on 1 October 2023.

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IGA 11/07/2023

UK independent garages have responded enthusiastically to last week’s announcement that they will be able to access Security-related Repair and Maintenance Information (SERMI) using the same framework as their EU counterparts, thanks to agreements reached by the Independent Garage Association (IGA).

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IGA 19/05/2023

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has submitted a response on behalf of members to the latest round of consultation on the UK replacement for the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER), which expires at the end of this month.

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RMI 17/05/2023

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IGA 04/05/2023

Responding to feedback from members, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) has added a new EV Practical Fault-Finding course to its suite of high-quality, cost-effective skills training.

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IGA 17/02/2023

Following a widespread campaign by automotive industry trade bodies, the Department for Transport (DfT) has extended the current MOT consultation’s closing date to 22 March 2023.

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IGA 13/02/2023

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) and Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) conducted a meeting with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to discuss the current consultation on MOT frequency and enhancements.

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IGA 06/02/2023

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has written to Louise Haigh MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, seeking her support to oppose any changes to the current MOT structure.

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IGA 26/01/2023

A petition has been launched by automotive trade bodies to stop the Government’s plans to extend the period before a vehicle has its first MOT, in order to reduce preventable casualties and deaths caused by vehicle defects.

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IGA 23/01/2023

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has written to the Department for Transport (DfT), urgently requesting an extension to their consultation proposing changes to the MOT frequency and other MOT enhancements.

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IGA 18/01/2023

Following today’s launch of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) consultation on proposed changes to the MOT, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) will be carrying out a full impact assessment of the proposed changes and will be consulting with its members and the wider industry to ensure that full, robust and representative feedback is provided in response.

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IGA 16/12/2022

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has welcomed the spotlight shone by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) on the central importance of the UK independent garage sector in ensuring the future mobility of the UK.

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IGA 26/10/2022

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has written to the new Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, highlighting the importance of the independent garage sector to the UK’s economy and the current issues facing the industry.

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IGA 22/09/2022

Following the announcement of the government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) is warning that additional support will be needed to help independent garage businesses survive the ongoing energy price crisis and protect UK road safety.  

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IGA 07/09/2022

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is launching a new service to help members assess and reduce their energy costs.

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IGA 01/09/2022

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is urging the government to implement measures to protect small businesses from soaring energy costs.Caption...

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IGA 22/08/2022

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is delighted to announce the winners of the British Independent Garage of the Year Awards 2022 (BIG Awards).

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IGA 27/04/2022

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is warning the Government that reducing the frequency of MOT tests to cut costs for households is a dangerous plan that would increase costs for motorists long-term.

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IGA 22/03/2022

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is delighted to announce that TV personality Mark Durden-Smith will be hosting the British Independent Garage of the Year Awards 2022 (BIG Awards), while actor and comedian Hugh Dennis will be entertaining guests after the ceremony with an after dinner speech.

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IGA 18/02/2022

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

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IGA 17/02/2022

A summary of findings has been published in Northern Ireland following a Call for Evidence seeking views on the potential introduction of biennial MOT testing for cars, light goods vehicles and motorcycles. The results show that while the Independent Garage Association (IGA) and other motoring organisations are strongly against biennial testing, a significant majority of individuals are in favour of the change.

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IGA 08/02/2022

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is launching GarageSafe this year to establish and maintain access to security level vehicle information for independent garages.

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IGA 04/11/2021

Entries are open for the Independent Garage Association (IGA)’s inaugural British Independent Garage of the Year Awards (BIG Awards). A night to give Britain’s garages the recognition they deserve by showcasing the outstanding skills, passion and innovation within the sector.

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IGA 02/11/2021

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is offering a second round of heavily subsidised Hybrid/EV Level 3 courses to its members, to help improve the shortage of EV trained technicians as EVs become more prevalent.

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IGA 27/10/2021

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is calling for the Chancellor to confirm that independent garages are eligible for the new one year 50% business rates discount for retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors announced in today’s Budget statement.

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IGA 21/10/2021

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has responded to the Northern Ireland (NI) Government’s Call for Evidence on changing the frequency of MOT testing, opposing the idea on road safety grounds.

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IGA 24/08/2021

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Transport Secretary and other Ministers, urging them to put a financial support package in place for garages over the next five years.

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IGA 28/06/2021

The Independent Garage Association (IGA) is offering heavily subsidised Hybrid/EV Level 3 training to its members to help improve the shortage of EV trained technicians.

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IGA 24/03/2021

“Rob’s enthusiasm for the independent sector and IGA activities is so important as the entire industry faces a very challenging time. I look forward to working closely with Rob to continue protecting the rights of the UK independent garage sector and drive through new initiatives that provide what garages need to keep fixing cars.” added Stuart James, IGA Chief Executive

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IGA 03/03/2021

“We are pleased that financial support for small businesses has been extended in today’s Budget, and thank the Chancellor for responding to our request to continue the Retail Business Rate Relief Scheme into the 2021/22 tax year,” said Stuart James, Chief Executive of the IGA

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IGA 15/01/2021

“These statistics show yet again that the independent garage sector is able to safely meet the needs of vulnerable customers when they are isolating and need to MOT their car, which reinforces the Government’s decision not to enforce another MOT extension." stated Stuart James, IGA Chief Executive

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IGA 11/01/2021

“There is an overwhelming, ever-changing amount of COVID-19 government guidance that garages need to comply with, as well as dozens of schemes they can benefit from. We have created this simple working guide, available to the whole sector, so that garages can quickly find the relevant resources they need to run all areas of their business during the pandemic." said Stuart James, IGA Chief Executive

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IGA 30/11/2020

“It has been a very difficult year for independent garages, and Ben has provided outstanding support to more people within our industry than ever before, while facing fewer fundraising opportunities throughout the ongoing pandemic." comments Stuart James, IGA Chief Executive 

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