Business rates will be changing on April 1st 2017 for the first time in 7 years. Rates are calculated on your property’s rateable value, which may have changed significantly since the last valuation, so please read the information in the bulletin below to find out how to check your new rating and make an appeal if necessary. Please let us know if you have any concerns about the new rates system or your valuation.

Today we launch a new benefit for Trust My Garage members - the TMG £1,000 Guarantee. This financial reassurance scheme gives peace of mind to consumers that if they have an unresolved problem with a member and are judged to be in the right after completing the ADR process, the IGA will underwrite the payment of any financial award up to £1,000. See below for further details.

In terms of lobbying, we recently met the DfT to discuss type approval legislation and to ensure that OBD sockets are still open for diagnostics for a period of time until the security standard falls in place. We are also continuing to campaign against the MOT 4-1-1 consultation on the grounds of road safety. Consumers also appear to be against the extension according to our survey which is great news. We urge you to respond to the consultation and have your say. Together we can stop the government from progressing with this dangerous, expensive and unnecessary consultation.

The new apprenticeship standard for Motor Vehicle Service and Maintenance Technician is now being piloted. We have been representing employers’ interests on Trailblazer and believe that apprenticeships are now heading in the right direction. We encourage you to consider the existing skills shortage to our industry and take on an apprentice.

If you have passed your annual training assessment, you must remember to record your result on the online MOT testing service. It’s a simple process, see the bulletin below for guidance.

Lastly we have some good news to share, particularly for members in the North; we will be opening a second RMI Academy of Automotive Skills in Runcorn to replicate the training centre in Southam, Warwickshire. Look out for more information soon.

If you need any help or advice we’re a phone call away, so please get in touch with us on 0845 305 4230 with your concerns, questions or comments.