Autogem’s dedication to raising standards in the across the automotive industry sector has been underlined with its most triumphant TPMS competition since its creation in 2022.
In its third year, Under Pressure ’24 has empowered hundreds of technicians to diagnose and resolve TPMS issues, with some of the most successful retail networks nominating their colleagues to take part in the unprecedented event.
More than 1,000 retail sites entered Under Pressure ’24, with 12 technicians eventually making the final at the Pirelli Performance Centre (PPC) in Burton-upon-Trent on Wednesday June 26.
The competition is Autogem’s most emphatic commitment to industry professionals, featuring a huge investment in both time and resource with the overarching aim of raising industry standards to benefit its customers.
It was also the most inclusive instalment to date, with two female technicians taking part along with a 16-year-old for the first time, to further underline the fact that the future has rarely been brighter – and that the automotive industry is an increasingly compelling career choice.
Managing Director Prashant Chopra said: “Under Pressure allowed us to collect a lot of data which then gave us an insight into where the knowledge gaps were. Then, when we came to the final, we were assessing the skills gaps not just internally across networks, but across the whole industry.”
“We have thousands of businesses who lean on us and this event has allowed us to capture a great deal of information which we then feed back in the form of improved training and collaborative sessions.”
The biggest-ever pool of premium sponsors were also associated with the event, including Mobil 1, DeWalt power tools, CAM Systems, Auto3iii, Automechanika and Autotech Training who once again provided one of the independent judges for the competition.
The overall winning technicians were Liam Gaynor of Merityre (large retailer category), Jamie Dancer of Formula First (small retailer category) and 16-year-old Jamie Evans of DCM Autocentres (under-23 category)
Stan Watson, Retail Director at Protyre Autocare, said: “There are some great businesses here, represented by some great technicians.
“Under Pressure ’24 showcases what the industry neds to understand, why TPMS is so important and why we need to drive education for our consumers in their vehicles and also the workshop.
Dene Arnold Managing Director at Merityre added: “The Autogem team are very good at getting the awareness out to the industry and also to the public about the importance of TPMS. Nobody else is doing this and nobody else is doing this to this level.”
Standards have raised exponentially over the three years of the competition, with judge Rob Marshall noting a marked improvement in skills amongst technicians compared to 2023 and 2022 when he was also a judge.
“I have been hugely impressed by what I’ve seen. Not only have the finalists identified and diagnosed some really technical TPMS issues but crucially, they have communicated them clearly and concisely, which is key. Autogem created Under Pressure with a pledge to raise standards and I can say with certainty that they have achieved their goal.”
Managing Director Prashant Chopra added: “We are a company that prides itself on a collaborative approach, and Under Pressure is our flagbearer for this approach.
“We want to make a positive impact on our customers’ lives and the industry as a whole. To see so many retailers and their technicians actually working together to support the development of others was a hugely rewarding sight. It reminded me that we’ve created something special with Under Pressure, which is becoming a red-letter event in the automotive calendar.”
