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Reverse lights not illuminating when the reverse gear is engaged is likely to be the result of failure of the reverse light switch. However, Cambiare suggests that the bulbs should be checked prior to replacing the switch as it has normally been experienced that vibration and voltage fluctuations cause the filament to fail.

Poor starting might be the result of a failing crankshaft sensor. Cambiare advises that technicians looking to diagnose poor starting, cutting out or poor performance should bear this part in mind during diagnosis and further mentions that monitoring the output from the sensor with a diagnostic scanner is the best way to identify this fault.

350 Jobs lost as wholesale chain founders. Pacific Retail and Godfrey Autoparts also in administration

The chief of the IMI has used a keynote speech to highlight the issues of low pay among apprentices and the problems of attracting new people to the industry.

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The Lifetime Achievement Award this year goes to a man who will be known personally to many in the industry – namely retired Deputy Managing Director of NGK UK, Brian Childs.

Childs joined NGK when it set-up in the UK in 1975, moving from Ford, where he started as an apprentice and then worked as part of the design and engineering team at Dunton.

In the mid-1970s NGK was primarily known as a supplier of spark plugs for motorbikes and when Brian joined he was one of just four sales representatives, covering an area north of the Thames up to Norfolk and Suffolk.

Phil Dowd is the winner of this year’s Extra Mile award. Due to his tireless work to get a nationwide network of  fuel system cleaning machines up and running on behalf of parent company Randstad.

The aftermarket faced a sustained period of consumers pulling back from excessive spending on new cars but also on servicing and repair. Despite this, there was the belief that an opportunity existed to create a brand that could offer independent garages an alternative revenue stream and a network that maintains close communication.

Bayside Garage was crowned the 2015 Small Garage of the Year, and in doing so fought off some stiff competition from 2013’s winner Anglo Continental Cars, Marina Motors, New Delaval Car Sales and Avia Autos.

Owner Andrew Littlejohn said: “I don’t expect to win anything because I never usually do. But to be told that we had won, I was like ‘bloody hell - that came out of the blue’. I was thinking that it was nice to be taking part and being nominated for the award, but never did I expect to be winning it.”

Dunkirk veteran Tommy Waring started Weldbank Garage in 1956. The business was founded in a big tin shed on the outskirts of Chorley, Lancashire and focussed on keeping the town’s parc of pre and post-war vehicles up and running.

The early years were a struggle. Tommy had a small business to run and a large family to feed. However, in 1970, eldest son Jack left his job as Service Manager in a local franchised dealership in order to join the family garage. Brothers Joe, David and Tony joined over the following years and turned the business from the one-man outfit it was at the start of the decade into Chorley’s biggest independent by the end.

Thompsons came out on top in the retailer category, however, for Director Julian Thompson simply being nominated for the award was seen as a victory by all concerned.

“It came as a big surprise, and it has all been good fun, which we have enjoyed being a part of. I think after all the work that we have put in, everybody here was very pleased that we had done it, and it was a nice morale boost. But the guys in the shop, who have been working here for 40-odd years, said finally it was nice to get some recognition for our endeavours.

“I know a lot of people read the magazine, and because of that it puts us on the map, as well as recognising the work we have done.”

Spartan Motor Factors in Wales completed its hat-trick this year, which is no mean feat when you consider the business has only been trading for three years, and one of the three Company Directors Daniel Webb believes a mixture of the team’s effort and the support from buying group Premier Distributor Partnership has seen it lift the trophy.

He adds: “It has been brilliant and the team has been excellent, but without the PDP I don’t think we would have done it. They have stuck by us through a hell of a lot.

“We were struggling a lot before with pricing, and now we get a lot better prices because we get a deal as part of the group, and without taking into account rebates, we would still be competitive.”