The Insipring Kate Weaver Runs for BEN

A few months ago, the Good Garage Scheme posted a story about how the automotive industry

charity, BEN, helped a young couple and their family through a difficult time. Kate Weaver suffered a stroke that left her paralysed during a pregnancy, but she delivered a healthy baby and received the care she needed to make a full recovery. She set goals for herself to walk in heels and run once again.

She has worn the heels and will now take part in a 5K Parkrun on the 23rd May at Quarry Park, Shrewsbury in order to raise money for BEN and the Dr Gardner's Charity for Nurses to help other families that may need it. 

To support Kate and to read more detail about how BEN helped her achieve her goals, please visit her justgiving page here.

Ben is the UK's dedicated charity for those who work, or have worked, in the automotive and related industries, as well as their dependants and is the chosen charity of the Good Garage Scheme.

For more information about BEN, please visit www.ben.org.uk.

5000 Reasons to Visit Lockwood & Greenwood

Congratulations to the team at Lockwood & Greenwood in Ashton-under-Lyne. They have reached a milestone of 5000 Good Garage Scheme customer feedbacks and are only the second member garage to achieve this number.

The garage has won the national award for top number of feedbacks in a year for the past three years so it was no surprise that they would soon reach 5000.

Customer feedback is at the heart of the Good Garage Scheme and a star rating of over 98% shows that Lockwood & Greenwood's customers are very happy with the service they provide.

The Good Garage Scheme are very proud to say congratulations for "job(s)" well done.

For more information about Lockwood & Greenwood and the services they offer, please visit the Good Garage Scheme website.

IAM Disappointed in Political Parties

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has reacted with dismay at the lack of priority given to cutting deaths on UK roads by the main political parties in their election manifestos.

Despite road accidents being the leading cause of death for males and females between five and 19, and the third leading cause of death for both males and females aged 20-34 in England and Wales no party has published any long or short-term initiatives to tackle such a significant cause of death amongst young people.

Sarah Sillars, IAM chief executive officer, said: “The forthcoming general election would have been the perfect opportunity for the political parties to show what a commitment they had to cutting the numbers of young people losing their lives in accidents that are entirely preventable.

“Instead, they’ve chosen to sweep the problem under the carpet, and ignore the issue until they are pressured to talk about it by campaigners and the public.”

The Labour Party’s manifesto talks about support for a long-term investment in strategic roads and addressing the neglect of local roads, while the Conservatives talk about an investment in funds to make cycling safer.

Recently the Labour Party said it would dedicate a £300 million fund to repair at least 24 million holes in the local road network over the next five years. However, according to Asphalt Industry Alliance the backlog of pothole repairs is £12 billion, making Labour’s fund a mere drop in the ocean compared to what is needed.

An IAM survey conducted last month found that tackling potholes was their number one concern of respondents, with 70% of them selecting this as a priority.

Like the main two parties, the Liberal Democrats mention cyclists to the exclusion of other road users, but do say they will pursue ‘road safety measures to keep cyclists safe.’

UKIP talks in their manifesto about only installing speed cameras as a deterrent in accident black spots.

The Green Party is the only one of the major parties to have devoted any significant amount of space to road safety in its manifesto.

It wants to ‘reduce the drink drive limit to as close to zero as is practical,’ ‘bring down speed limits to 20mph in residential areas and 40mph on rural roads,’ and ‘require best-practice technology to be fitted to lorries to ensure that drivers are fully aware of the presence of pedestrians and cyclists’ amongst other measures to encourage walking and cycling.

The Scottish National Party has meanwhile made no reference at all to any road safety issue in its manifesto.

Sarah added: “It is a massive disappointment that the major political parties are treating the issue of improving safety on the roads as an irritation rather than one they should have an instinctive desire to tackle.”
In its own manifesto, the IAM has identified seven key areas any government needs to focus on:

• Reducing young driver risk
• Driver risk management
• Keeping older drivers safer for longer
• Protecting the vulnerable
• Safe motorcycling has a key role in transport policy
• Leadership is essential for sustainable road safety
• Supporting the law abiding majority on our roads

Sarah concluded: “There are many schemes that can be implemented at low-cost that will pay for themselves many times over thanks to the benefits society will gain from having fewer killed and injured.
 
“Experts often talk about the first 100 days of a new government. The first 100 deaths will occur before the end of May. That is how important it is that politicians show leadership and give road safety the priority it demands."


The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving and motorcycling. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving and motorcycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.

For more information visit iam.org.uk

BBC Chats to Arnolds Autos in Hull

BBC Radio Humberside recently contacted Good Garage Scheme member, Arnolds Autos in Hull for an interview on the radio and spoke with Garage Administrator, Lisa Carter.

Arnolds Autos premises in Hull, East Yorkshire

The station wanted Lisa's advice on a story regarding RAC's finding that 60% of motorists lack trust in garages.
The BBC research team found Arnold's Autos quickly on the Good Garage Scheme website and contacted them first as they show the highest number of customer feedbacks in Hull.


Lisa told the Good Garage Scheme that their garage provides every customer with a feedback form and knows that a lot of their business comes via the Good Garage Scheme because they ask their customers at each visit.

The BBC asked why customers choose Arnolds Autos and the reply  from Lisa was simply, "Trust. We quote for the work before the job starts and keep the customer informed."

She also mentioned that they provide a service checklist and that the Good Garage Scheme is advertised on TV.  Lisa said that quite a few customers heard the interview on the radio and mentioned it when they visited the garage.

Arnolds Autos have been a valued member of the Good Garage Scheme since 2008 and have a 99.2% star rating from over 1100 feedbacks.

IMI Awards the Outstanding Mr Andy Kent

Andy Kent, the inspiring founder of Andy's Kars and Andy's Ark in Bar Hill has received the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) award for Outstanding Individual Achievement. This is a brand new award which Andy received at the IMI's Annual Dinner on 12th March at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, also attended by ex-England rugby player and TV personality, Matt Dawson and Richard Noble OBE.

Andy works tirelessly to help people overcome the challenges in their lives, whether physical, psychological or circumstantial. He set up Andy's Kars in 2002 and subsequently the charity, Andy's Ark in 2009 as a centre to help young people to come to terms with their situations, and to encourage a robust, resilient and "can do" attitude. With a helping hand in many high profile success stories to the centre's credit, including Paralympic 100m gold medalist Johnny Peacock. Andy is extremely proud of the people he works with.

He says," For many people, the challenges they have you wouldn't know about just to look at them. But these hidden challenges, such as difficulties with speech or movement, or psycological issues, mean people need our support. We try to show people who may have lost hope that there is still a life worth living for them, that they can make it happen. We are always prepared to give people a chance, and we foster respect., motivation and self-reliance."

At the awards ceremony, where two other new awards were unveiled alongside Andy's, IMI CEO Steve Nash said,"It is important that the IMI takes the opportunity to recognise those individuals who have made unique and important contributions to the progress of the sector. The recipients of our three new awards are all leading lights in the sector whoare setting examples for others to follow. Next year's nominees will have a hard act to follow."


Andy's Kars has been a valued member of the Good Garage Scheme since 2006 and we would like to congratulate Andy Kent on this well deserved award.

Spring Clean Your Car

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is sharing advice with drivers to ensure their cars are well-prepared for the spring. Here are seven important tips from the IAM’s chief examiner, Peter Rodger, to see you through the season.

1. Now is a good time to give your car a complete spring clean inside and out. Give the outside of your car specific attention as patches of grime and dirt collected over the winter can cause corrosion. Wash your car thoroughly and take it to a car wash that specialises in under-side cleaning.
2. Check your car lights and windscreen wiper blades are working properly and make sure the tyres are not damaged or worn – if any of these need replacing do it before you start your journey. Keeping a spare pack of car bulbs in your boot is also a good idea.
3. Top up your brake fluid as you may have used more of it during the winter months. The same applies to your washer screen fluid and coolant levels. If you’re unsure about topping these up consult your handbook or take it to a mechanic.
4. If you’re allergic to pollen, the onset of hay fever can affect your driving during the spring. Use a pollen filter or switch the air-conditioning on to help purify the air.
5. Tree sap can be hard to remove once it hardens so don’t forget to give your car a regular wash-over using some hot water and a clean sponge – this should help the sap to dissolve.
6. If you find the sap has hardened and difficult to remove use a colour restorer and an electric polisher. Use specialist cleaning pads to buff the car paint into the metal, but don’t ever use household cleaning pads as these will ruin the car’s paintwork.
7. Always keep a pair of sunglasses with you; these will come in handy when dealing with glare from early morning and evening low sun.

Peter said: “Many annoying problems can be prevented by simple checks and regular maintenance. Keeping your windows and mirrors clear of dirt and blemishes can prevent accidents and save lives.”

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the IAM for this week's helpful blog and advises motorists to visit their local member garage for a Spring Check.

BBC Radio Oxford Interviews Good Garage Scheme member

photo courtesy of NMV Services Ltd

Kat Orman of BBC Radio Oxford called on her family mechanic at NMV Services in Faringdon,
Oxfordshire and interviewed owner and mechanic, Mike Nash, live on the morning programme on Wednesday, 11th March 2015.

She asked some great questions including, "How do customers react when you have to give bad news?" He answered that he is good at it because he understands what it is like as he has a family and is sympathetic to their reaction.

Kat also asked Mike to imagine if he weren't a mechanic and then asked how he would find a trustworthy garage. Without missing a beat he answered, "Good Garage Scheme."
He went on to say he had been a member of the scheme since 2010 and he enjoyed being a member and working with the Good Garage Scheme.

When asked what guarantees a customer had with a Good Garage Scheme member garage, Mike answered, "Customers can see all reviews that previous customers leave with cards or online. It is an opportunity to see bad press as well as good and helps everyone."

Kat Orman then asked Mike how the garage is regulated. He answered, "We are regulated by the cards (feedback) received and if bad reports are received, the Good Garage Scheme can strike you off the list."

The BBC presenter then went on to interview marketing manager, Anndi Sheppard, to find out more about the Good Garage Scheme.

The link is available to hear on iPlayer for a limited period here.

For more information about NMV Services Ltd in Faringdon, click here.