Visiting the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event 2022

Glen Callum Associates welcomes return of national aftermarket events

UK Garage and Bodyshop Event – what’s it all about?

Trade shows offer the perfect opportunity to not only network and catch up with other like-minded industry professionals, but it’s also a great way of keeping up to date with the latest innovations, trends and opportunities entering the market – something that we feel is crucial in order to maintain our forward-thinking approach that benefits both candidates and clients.

Naturally, chances to attend such events have been few and far between over the past few years and so when the Glen Callum Associates team heard that Automechanika Birmingham was hosting the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event at the NEC in Birmingham (practically on our doorstep!), we felt it was a must that we took a team outing to the show.

The two-day, one-of-a-kind event, held from 8-9 June, welcomed visitors from garages, bodyshops and the wider automotive aftermarket.

Glen offers an insight into the world of aftermarket recruitment

Over the two days of the event the training hubs provided more than 100 hours of talks and seminars across its workshop, bodyshop, EV and Hybrid training areas, providing key insights on the rapidly changing outlook of the automotive industry.

Our very own director, Glen Shepherd, took to the seminar stand on day one, joining a panel of other established industry professionals, hosted by CAT magazine, to discuss recruitment issues and opportunities in the aftermarket.

Glen shed light on some interesting topics, offering tips on how businesses can structure their recruitment strategies to best effect, pointing to the importance of actively engaging with candidates, sharing cultural information and keeping the candidate updated, making the business more attractive.

“There’s a huge opportunity to bring in people from outside the industry, as well as investing in the next generation,” said Glen. “It’s all about finding the balance of young people and bringing in outside talent with the skills needed.”

Later in the day, the team attended a topical talk from IAAF Chief Executive and UK AFCAR Chairman Mark Field and UK AFCAR technical director Neil Pattemore, to learn more about the extensive work undertaken to protect and promote the rights and freedoms afforded to the UK automotive aftermarket.

Meet and greets and familiar faces

As well attending many of the training and seminar sessions, the team also invested time in meeting with exhibitors, as well as the many visitors in attendance, making introductions and sharing the specialist recruitment services they can offer the automotive aftermarket.

After a successful day at the show, Glen Callum Associates then sponsored an exclusive IAAF networking event, hosted at the Genting Hotel, Resorts World, NEC Birmingham on the evening of Wednesday 8 June, with more than 100 IAAF members in attendance, embracing the opportunity to catch up in person in a relaxing environment.