Up Yours

-2026-

A full day of specialist training across diagnostics and business. Two events, one goal — helping you get better at what you do.

📅
Saturday 16th May 2026
📍
Bridgwater, Somerset
Diagnostics at Technical Topics · Business at The Canalside · 8 min walk apart
Book Your Ticket - £340
See the Lineup

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

10 Expert Sessions

Two events running simultaneously — diagnostic and business — with 10 total sessions across the day.

Industry-Leading Speakers

Each speaker has been chosen for what they know best. Focused, specialist knowledge you can trust and apply.

Full Day + Evening

Lunch, refreshments all day, plus dinner and live music at The Canalside — all included.

Community & Networking

Spend the day with people who get it. Whether it’s comparing diagnostic approaches or talking shop over lunch — this is your crowd.

ABOUT THE EVENT

The Best Garages Invest In Themselves

Training and development is at the heart of what we do at Tech Topics. Up Yours 2026 brings together the automotive industry’s sharpest minds for a full day of no-nonsense, practical training you can put to work on Monday morning.

Whether you’re a diagnostic technician wanting to sharpen your diagnostic skills, or a garage owner looking to run a tighter business — this event is built for you.

Two dedicated tracks

Hands-on practical content

No-bull training style

Networking with 120+ professionals

Reserve Your Place

CHOOSE YOUR EVENT

Two Events, One Unforgettable Day

Select the event that matches your role

AUTOMOTIVE DIAGNOSTICS

Up Your Diagnostics

For technicians & diagnostic specialists

📍

 

Technical Topics, Bridgwater

£340

per person · +VAT

Six expert sessions from leading automotive trainers. Follow up-to-date technological advancements, live experiments and myth-busting knowledge drops by the best in the business.

6 expert diagnostic sessions

Evening social with dinner & live band

Lunch & refreshments

Q&A in each session

Session recordings & materials

Get Automotive Tickets
BUSINESS & FRONT OF HOUSE

Up Your Business

For garage owners, managers & front of house

📍

 

The Canalside, Bridgwater

£340

per person · +VAT

Four focused sessions on the business side of running a modern garage. From pricing strategies to team retention — practical tools you can deploy immediately.

4 expert business sessions

Evening social with dinner & live band

Lunch & refreshments

Q&A in each session

Session recordings & materials

Get Business Tickets
🚶

Both venues are just an 8-minute walk apart. The evening social is held at the conference centre after the day’s sessions.

YOUR SPEAKERS

Meet The Experts

Select the event that matches your role

DIAGNOSTIC SPEAKERS

James Dillon

James Dillon
Technical Topics
Session Title TBD
Session information coming soon…

Wilf Goodman

Wilf Goodman
Technical Topics
The Nuts & Bolts of Full Self-Driving
Autonomous and self-driving vehicles are amongst us. How they work, how you can work on them and the mystery of their function is explained in this practically demonstrated session.

Steve Scott

Steve Scott
Simply Diagnostics
Session Title TBD
Session information coming soon…

Mark Webb

Mark Webb
Garage Vitals
Why OEM tools? SERMI – What Do We Know So Far
This session takes a deep dive into OEM software — the features most technicians overlook and just how accessible the pricing really is. Understanding what’s available and what it costs puts you in control, working on your own terms without reliance on third party tools. The session also covers SERMI — what we know so far, what it means for your business and how it works in practice.

Rob Drinkwater

Rob Drinkwater
Tech Know Garage Services
Navigating Change: Euro 7 and Electric Vehicles
Euro 7 and electric vehicles are already changing what lands on your ramp. This session cuts through the complexity so you understand what these vehicles are, how they work and what to expect when you work on them.

Rob Drinkwater

Gareth Davies
Euro Performance

The Dynamic World of Diagnosticianing

A real-world job that many workshops & technicians may be presented with. A simple control unit handshake at face value, but nothing is ever as it seems repairing vehicles in this trade. You’ll develop a dynamic approach to the next steps towards a ‘fixed’ conclusion, how these decisions affect the value of a job to the workshop & the technician, and look to use the skills required to think on your feet as a technician.

BUSINESS SPEAKERS

Andy Crook

Andy Crook
GotBoost

The 4 Rights of Job Success

In this interactive session, Andy will ask delegates to consider various options to help a fictitious business become more successful. The implications of each decision will be discussed and analysed. More importantly, you will discover the reasons for your choices.

Michael Shaikly

Michael Shaikly
Shaikly Motor Company
Stop saying yes
Why do we say yes to every customer—and at what cost? The loudest voices often win, but are they the ones actually adding value to your business? Every time you agree to the wrong job, you risk undervaluing your expertise, stressing your team, and letting your best customers down. Successful businesses don’t say yes to everyone—they understand the true value of their work and make deliberate choices that create a genuine win-win. This session challenges you to rethink who you say yes to, and whether every job really deserves it.

Jay Wheatley

Jay Wheatley
Absolutely Automotive

Define your Business… Before your customers do

Most garage owners don’t set out to run a reactive business, but over time it can become exactly that – driven by the wrong work, the wrong customers, and constant decision-making.

This session shows how understanding your business better helps you take back control and makes the business easier to run.

Jennifer Webb

Jennifer Webb
HR Vitals

From ‘Club’ to ‘Company’, from Technician to Manager

It’s a transition many garage businesses will recognise — evolving from a club to a company. This session explores what that transition actually looks like, how responsibilities shift when a technician becomes a manager and what leaders can do, in practical terms, to protect their business.

SCHEDULE

Full Day Schedule

Here’s how the day unfolds

9:00
Session Title TBD
James Dillon — Technical Topics
Session information coming soon...
9:30
The Dynamic World of Diagnosticianing
Gareth Davies — Euro Performance Ltd
A real-world job that many workshops & technicians may be presented with. A simple control unit handshake at face value, but nothing is ever as it seems repairing vehicles in this trade. You’ll develop a dynamic approach to the next steps towards a ‘fixed’ conclusion, how these decisions affect the value of a job to the workshop & the technician, and look to use the skills required to think on your feet as a technician.
☕ 10:30 – 10:45 · Morning Break
10:45
Navigating Change: Euro 7 and Electric Vehicles
Rob Drinkwater — TechKnows Garage Services
Euro 7 and electric vehicles are already changing what lands on your ramp. This session cuts through the complexity so you understand what these vehicles are, how they work and what to expect when you work on them.
11:45
The Nuts & Bolts of Full Self-Driving
Wilf Goodman - Technical Topics
Autonomous and self-driving vehicles are amongst us. How they work, how you can work on them and the mystery of their function is explained in this practically demonstrated session.
🍽️ 12:30 – 13:30 · Lunch
13:30
Session Title TBD
Steve Scott - Simply Diagnostics
Session information coming soon...
☕ 14:30 – 14:45 · Afternoon Break
14:45
Why OEM tools? SERMI - What Do We Know So Far 
Mark Webb - Garage Vitals
This session takes a deep dive into OEM software — the features most technicians overlook and just how accessible the pricing really is. Understanding what's available and what it costs puts you in control, working on your own terms without reliance on third party tools. The session also covers SERMI — what we know so far, what it means for your business and how it works in practice.
15:30
Group Panel
All speakers
The day closes with all six speakers together for an open Q&A on the hottest topics in the industry right now. This is your chance to put your questions directly to the room — no agenda, no script, just honest conversation between professionals who work at the sharp end of the automotive aftermarket.
🎸 18:00 onwards · Evening Social at The Canalside
9:00
The 4 Rights of Job Success
Andy Crook — GotBoost
In this interactive session, Andy will ask delegates to consider various options to help a fictitious business become more successful. The implications of each decision will be discussed and analysed. More importantly, you will discover the reasons for your choices.
☕ 10:30 – 10:45 · Morning Break
10:45
Stop Saying Yes
Michael Shaikly - Shaikly Motor Company
Why do we say yes to every customer—and at what cost? The loudest voices often win, but are they the ones actually adding value to your business? Every time you agree to the wrong job, you risk undervaluing your expertise, stressing your team, and letting your best customers down. Successful businesses don’t say yes to everyone—they understand the true value of their work and make deliberate choices that create a genuine win-win. This session challenges you to rethink who you say yes to, and whether every job really deserves it.
🍽️ 12:30 – 13:15 · Lunch
13:30
From ‘Club’ to ‘Company’, from Technician to Manager
Jennifer Webb - HR Vitals
It's a transition many garage businesses will recognise — evolving from a club to a company. This session explores what that transition actually looks like, how responsibilities shift when a technician becomes a manager and what leaders can do, in practical terms, to protect their business.
☕ 14:45 – 15:00 · Afternoon Break
15:00
Define your Business... Before your customers do
Jay Wheatley - Absolutely Automotive
Most garage owners don’t set out to run a reactive business, but over time it can become exactly that - driven by the wrong work, the wrong customers, and constant decision-making. This session shows how understanding your business better helps you take back control and makes the business easier to run.
🎸 18:00 onwards · Evening Social at The Canalside

TRACK RECORD

What Happened Last Time?

Andy Crook Hydrogen Experiment
James Dillon Digital Marketing
Mark Webb
Up Your Diagnostics 2026
Up Yours Speakers 2025

Dinner & Dancing

The Canalside, Bridgwater · From 6pm

After a full day of learning, head over to The Canalside for dinner, drinks and dancing. We’ll clear the tables for the live band — Snappa.

This is where the best conversations happen. No slides, no agendas — just good people, good food, and great music.

Plus-ones welcome. Partners and guests can join the evening social — just add a ticket at checkout. It’s a great excuse for a weekend away in Somerset.

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES

Everything You Need For The Day

Lunch & Refreshments

Tea, coffee, soft drinks, Jaffa Cakes and lunch provided .

Networking

Connect with likeminded professionals in the industry and ask the experts your questions.

Evening Social

Dinner, drinks, socialising and live band at The Canalside from 6pm.

Free parking

On-site parking available at Technical Topics and The Canalside.

Resources

Login to TTHQ Remote after the event to get session recordings and experts materials.

u

Expert Q&A

Every session has time built in for questions. Leave fully understanding what you’ve learnt.

GOT QUESTIONS?

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Can I Park?

Technical Topics: There will be parking available on-site in our neighbours carparks. We’d advise walking or carpooling if possible.

The Canalside: There are two carparks, one closer to the doors and one as soon as you enter. There should be plenty of space. During the evening, gates to the carpark close at midnight. Cars can be left overnight and retrieved after 8am on Sunday.

Can I bring a plus one to the dinner?

Absolutely! Partners are welcome and encouraged. You can buy additional dinner tickets here: 

Can I bring my team?
Will the events be live streamed?

Although we’ve live streamed in the past, we will no longer be streaming the events. Recordings will be available to those who purchased tickets after the event.

Can I attend both events?

No, the events are held at different locations and it’s one ticket per person.

Where is the best place to stay?

The best place to stay is the Premier Inn at Junction 24. It’s within walking distance of Technical Topics and The Canalside. We’d advise booking ASAP if you want to stay here.

Is lunch provided?

Yes, lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Those at Up Your Business will come to Technical Topics for lunch and then return to The Canalside.

Do I need to bring anything?

No, you don’t need to bring a thing. We’ll provide notebooks and stationary for the note-takers among you. You won’t need anything else.

VENUES

Getting There

Technical Topics, Bridgwater

Automotive diagnostics

Technical Topics

Unit F, Thistle Park, Crossways Road · Bridgwater, TA6 6LS

🚗
By Car
3 mins from M5 Junction 24. Free parking on-site.
🚆
By Train
Bridgwater station — 10 minute taxi ride.
🏨
Accommodation
We’ll send a recommended hotels list when you book.

The Canalside

Business & Front Of house

The Canalside

Marsh Ln, Bridgwater TA6 6LQ

🚗
By Car
4 mins from M5 Junction 24. Free parking on-site.
🚆
By Train
Bridgwater station — 10 minute taxi ride.
🏨
Accommodation
We’ll send a recommended hotels list when you book.

Ready To Up Yours?

Training and development is at the heart of what we do at Tech Topics. Up Yours 2026 brings together the automotive industry’s sharpest minds for a full day of no-nonsense, practical training you can put to work on Monday morning.

Whether you’re a diagnostic technician wanting to sharpen your diagnostic skills, or a garage owner looking to run a tighter business — this event is built for you.

Get Diagnostic Tickets - £340
Get Business Tickets - £340