Automechanika Birmingham has been shortlisted for a major industry honour at the upcoming Exhibition News (EN) Awards, with its dynamic Motorvate initiative recognised in the Legacy & Impact Award category.
Motorvate, which debuted as part of Automechanika Birmingham 2025, has been nominated for the award that celebrates events delivering lasting, meaningful impact beyond commercial return, recognising initiatives that support industry growth, community development and long-term positive change.
The arena launched at Automechanika Birmingham 2025 and provided a dynamic platform for students to connect directly with employers, training providers and industry leaders in the automotive aftermarket. Through hands-on experiences, career guidance and live panel discussions, the initiative helped demystify career pathways into the automotive sector and showcased the exciting opportunities available across modern mobility to combat the current skills challenge in the sector.
The Legacy & Impact Award highlights shows and initiatives that create tangible benefits for their industry and wider communities through education, engagement and long-term collaboration. Motorvate was designed with precisely this ambition in mind, bringing together young people, educators and businesses to address the industry’s growing skills gap and inspire the next generation of talent to consider careers in the automotive aftermarket.
The programme has already been widely praised for its role in supporting skills development and strengthening the pipeline of future technicians, engineers and specialists entering the industry. Its popular Ignite arena will return to Automechanika Birmingham’s sister show, the UK Garage & Bodyshop Event, this June to continue the organisers’ commitment to championing skills, careers and community in the aftermarket. The aim is to continue the conversation, showcase opportunities and help change perceptions of the sector while addressing the industry’s growing skills gap.
Motorvate’s impact has also been recognised through a second EN Awards nomination, with the initiative shortlisted in the Best Event Partnership category alongside the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI). The collaboration was created to help address the automotive sector’s widening skills gap by connecting students, career changers and industry professionals with real career pathways, employers and training opportunities.
Joanne Knowles, Event Director at Messe Frankfurt UK, organisers of Automechanika Birmingham, commented:
“Motorvate was created to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing the automotive industry today – attracting and inspiring the next generation of talent. To see the initiative shortlisted for the EN Legacy & Impact Award is incredibly rewarding, as it recognises the commitment we have to supporting the sector. As event organisers, we believe our role goes beyond simply running successful events. We care deeply about the future of the industry, and through Motorvate we aim to shine a light on the challenges it faces while helping to champion and support the people working to drive it forward.”
She continued: “Automechanika Birmingham has always been about more than just showcasing products and technology; it’s about supporting the long-term health and growth of the aftermarket. Motorvate demonstrates the powerful role trade shows can play in shaping the future of an industry.”
Alongside the Motorvate nominations, Messe Frankfurt UK has also been shortlisted in the Employer of the Year category at the EN Awards, recognising the company’s commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive and forward-thinking workplace culture across its events portfolio.
The EN Awards celebrate excellence across the exhibition and events industry, highlighting organisations and initiatives that drive innovation, engagement and long-term impact.
Following strong industry support for its launch in 2025, Motorvate will return at the UK Garage & Bodyshop Event, where businesses from across the aftermarket will once again be encouraged to get involved and support the next generation of talent.
Automechanika Birmingham will return in 2027, with even more opportunities for exhibitors to showcase their innovation, engage new audiences and celebrate excellence in the aftermarket.
