Warwick to host UK’s leading automotive technicians and garage owners
The UK’s top automotive talent will arrive in Warwick on Saturday November 14, as Delphi Academy in Warwick hosts the national finals of the prestigious Top Awards 2026.
The event brings together the live finals of three major national competitions: Top Technician, Top Garage, and Top Apprentice.
The day’s champions will later be crowned at an awards ceremony at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Coventry.
For the first time, organisers have opened daytime doors free of charge to local garage owners, technicians, school leavers, and parents interested in modern automotive careers.
Visitors will get front-row access to vehicle diagnostics, watching the UK’s top five technicians tackle 50-minute live vehicle fault-finding challenges against the clock.
Top Apprentice finalists will also demonstrate their mechanical and electrical skills, while Top Garage contenders will present their businesses to panels of industry experts.
Ryan Fuller, managing director of Top Awards, said: “We want to welcome anyone in Warwickshire and the wider West Midlands, from vehicle technicians and garage owners to young people considering their future career prospects.
“With modern vehicles becoming advanced computers on wheels, there’s never been a more exciting time to enter the trade. This free event lets local people see top-tier talent in action, explore the earning potential of modern technicians, and get hands-on with the latest tech.”
Addressing the nationwide technician shortage, the event aims to break outdated stereotypes about workshop environments.
Top Apprentice finalist Katie Bowes said: “People often think being an apprentice just means sweeping floors and making tea; competing here shows you are capable of so much more. Diagnostics is like solving a high-tech puzzle, every day brings something new, and modern career paths in workshops are fantastic.”
Young visitors will have the opportunity to see professional technicians tackling complex vehicle faults, speak to industry experts and discover potential routes into apprenticeships and employment with independent garages and franchised dealerships.
Complimentary breakfast and lunch will be available to trade visitors in exchange for donations to Ben, the dedicated charity supporting the mental and physical health of automotive workers.