Calling all across the aftermarket: the CAT Awards are back.
Taking place on 27 February at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel, the CAT Awards celebrates all of the best in the UK automotive aftermarket.
Entries have now closed. A shortlist will be announced in the next few weeks.
CAT Awards 2025 categories
- FACTOR CHAIN OF THE YEAR
This category was open to all light vehicle and CV motor factors, both independent, chain and VM-owned, regardless of the number of branches. We called for suppliers and garages alike to tell us stories about how they had received excellent treatment. - FACTOR BRANCH TEAM OF THE YEAR
Working behind the parts counter can be frantic and there is always another target to hit, but delivering excellent customer service must be paramount. Our readers put forward a number of branch teams that all pull together to make the impossible happen. - TRAINING SCHEME OF THE YEAR
Now in its third year, this award is open to all of the many courses and events available to people in the aftermarket. Judging this award has been tricky, but we’ve been considering the greatest benefit vs cost to trainees. - INDEPENDENT GARAGE OF THE YEAR
There are many garage awards in the industry, but this is the one that everyone wants to win. This award was open to all comers, whether independent, or a branch of a chain, as long as particularly good customer service is offered and technical excellence. - RETAILER OF THE YEAR
First presented in the early 1980s, Retailer of the Year is the oldest award in our line-up. It has not been an easy few years for those in retail, so we’ve been looking for some of the most inspiring stories that have blossomed despite the barraging headwinds. - ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
This is a special award for an individual that has made an outstanding contribution to the sector, either during the year in review or throughout their career. We consider nominations for people who work, or have worked at any level in the automotive aftermarket. - SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
One of the most hotly-contested categories in the CAT Awards, Supplier of the Year is open to all component suppliers and manufacturers that can give us a good reason to be nominated. This is one of the categories that is voted on by CAT readers. - RISING STAR
The Rising Star award celebrates people who are up and coming in the automotive industry, regardless of their background. In previous years, this award has gone to students of FE colleges who have come from diverse and often underprivileged backgrounds. - INDUSTRY PARTNER
Our Industry Partner Award category celebrates the firms in the service industry. Voted for by CAT readers, it is open to PR companies, recruiters, software developers, insurers, law firms and anyone else that supports the aftermarket with professional services. - ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD
You might have heard about the ‘circular economy’ where things are refurbished and resold. That’s something that the aftermarket has been doing for many years, and now we’re celebrating those positive impacts on the world with this award, now in its second year. - GARAGE CONCEPT OF THE YEAR
Another public voted award, this gong will go to the best garage network, scheme or concept. The category also includes ‘hard’ franchises and corporation-owned brands. We look for the programme that offers the best value for its members nationwide. - INNOVATION AWARD
New for 2025, the Innovation Award recognises and celebrates innovation that has taken a part of the aftermarket to the next stage, whether that is towards the sector’s EV future, streamlining a well-established process, or more.
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