AutoCare win Garage Concept Award at the CAT Awards 2020

By Damien Pitter | 06 Feb 2020

2019 was a great year for the AutoCare Network reaching 815 garages, and 2020 has got off to an even better start, winning the Garage Concept Award at the CAT Awards 2020.

The CAT Awards ceremony was held at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester on Wednesday 5th February 2020. AutoCare fought off stiff competition including Service Sure, Halfords Autocentre, ECP’s Autofirst and Good Garage Scheme, to win the award for Best Garage Concept.

The CAT Awards have become one of the automotive aftermarket's most coveted trophies. Given out in nine categories, the awards include recognition for motor factors, garages, suppliers and individual achievements. The Garage Concept Award was open to all garage schemes, fast-fits and autocentres and the shortlist was voted for by the readers of CAT Magazine. Unlike the other awards, the Garage Concept Award winner was chosen by a panel of independent judges, as opposed to the traditional voting system.

Bob Ackroyd, Managing Director of UK Trading Groups was at the awards ceremony with Maria McCullough, Garage Network Manager for AutoCare, he said “I am absolutely delighted for Maria, her team and the Network members, this has taken many years of hard work to build what is the best and largest Garage network in the industry, they should be very proud.”

Maria said, “I am over the moon. Having been responsible for launching AutoCare in 2004, for me this a huge achievement both personally and professionally. Thank you to all our garages and the GROUPAUTO members for their continued support over the last 16 years and as we continue to lead the way for independent garages, here’s to a fantastic future. After a very successful 2019 and reaching 815 network garages, winning the Garage Concept Award was just the icing on the cake, it still hasn’t sunk in. We are very proud of what we have achieved.”

“I also wanted to highlight that throughout the 16 years of AutoCare in the UK, I have had the support of an amazing team of colleagues behind me, without them this award win would not have been possible.”