Assisting members to get technical information from carmakers is one of the aims of the new chief executive designate of the Garage Equipment Association Dave Garratt.

Keeping members informed about new regulations and technology, such as particulate filters for the new breed of diesel engines and Xenon headlamps, is also high on the agenda.

“My first plan is to research our members and find out exactly what services they would like for the future,” adds Garratt. Current GEA incumbent John Nelson is to retire at the end of the year, but will remain to work with Garratt until that time.

Garratt, 46, who took on the new post at the start of September, has spent most of his career in the automotive industry, most recently as an aftersales trainer at Volvo Cars UK, before producing of technical training videos for carmakers like VW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz.