Motorvate’s Ignite Arena returns to UK Garage and Bodyshop to inspire the next generation
Following the huge success of Motorvate at Automechanika Birmingham 2025, show organisers have confirmed it will return in full at Automechanika Birmingham 2027. In the meantime, visitors to the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event (UKGBE) 2026 can look forward to experiencing two of Motorvate’s most popular elements, the Ignite Arena and the Automechanika ‘Thirty Under 30’ awards, when the event takes place at Birmingham’s NEC this year.
The Ignite Arena, which formed part of Motorvate in 2025, will be a highlight at this year’s event and has been designed with a brand-new, refined interactive format. The dynamic space will help to inspire and connect students, educators, career changers and brands, showcasing the breadth of opportunities in the automotive aftermarket to address and support the growing skills and talent gap.
During the 2025 edition of Automechanika Birmingham, Motorvate and the Ignite Arena saw 1,786 visitors attend over three days of the show, with 91 percent of attendees stating they felt the arena was important. This highlights the need for features such as Motorvate and the Ignite Arena to support those looking for their next opportunity.
The Ignite Arena will offer a live DJ, interactive talks, competitions and supplier meet-and-greets designed to showcase the vast range of career opportunities across the industry. It will also continue to drive conversations around gender balance, career progression and transferable skills, supporting pathways into the trade from other industries at a time when the skills gap affects workshop productivity and profitability across the UK.
Alongside this, the Ignite Arena will also play host to the return of the Automechanika ‘Thirty Under 30’ programme, designed to celebrate rising stars within the sector. Free to enter, the awards recognise the top 30 young professionals shaping the future of the aftermarket, with finalists selected by an expert panel and honoured at an exclusive networking event during the show.
Joanne Knowles, Event Director at Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of UKGBE, commented: “The response to Motorvate and the Ignite Arena at Automechanika Birmingham 2025 was phenomenal, it was a real hit with exhibitors and visitors alike. While Motorvate will return fully to Automechanika Birmingham in 2027, bringing the Ignite Arena to the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event is a natural next step in our commitment to championing skills, careers and community in the aftermarket. It’s about continuing the conversation, showcasing opportunities and helping change the perception of the industry to address to skills gap.”
The UK Garage and Bodyshop Event 2026 Event will return to the NEC, Birmingham from 3rd to 4th June 2026 to highlight the latest training, technology and tools specifically designed for the garage, bodyshop and detailing sectors.
Exhibitors already signed up to exhibit at UK Garage and Bodyshop Event 2026 include Alliance Automotive Group (AAG), BM Catalysts, Bosch Automotive, Cataclean, Hella, JHM Butt & Co, LKQ Euro Car Parts, Niterra, Pichler Tools, Ring Automotive, SATA, TechMan, The Race Group, Think Car and Toyota Trade Parts.