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LKQ Bodyshop delivers practical skills with Apprentice+. By Alan Feldberg - 23/07/2026 LKQ Bodyshop has unveiled Apprentice+, an IMI-certified training programme developed to provide hands-on experience to young learners. Designed to complement existing apprenticeships, Apprentice+ offers practical experience across the full repair journey to better prepare apprentices for the workshop. Held at the LKQ Academy in Tamworth in partnership with 3M, U-POL, DeVilbiss, Laser-PowerTec, and Mirka, Apprentice+ consists of six practical pathways. * Health and safety * Panel repair * Paint * Mechanical, electrical and trim * Quality control * Profitability and sustainability Participants will complete assessments at the end of each pathway to demonstrate their learning, while four additional e-learning modules cover hybrid and electric vehicle awareness, workshop safety, hand-arm vibration awareness, and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Future talent. Jodie Mullard, director of customer strategy at LKQ, said: "The industry has been clear that apprentices need more opportunities to put their learning into practice and develop the broad skills required in a modern bodyshop. We developed Apprentice+ to respond directly to this demand. "The programme offers exceptional value for bodyshops looking to invest in their future talent, combining practical training, assessment and peer learning, with selected tools and equipment provided by leading sector suppliers to support apprentices after the programme. "The skills gap is a challenge for the whole sector, and no single business can solve it alone. Our role is to connect apprentices with the people and organisations that can nurture their talent and help build a strong pipeline of capable professionals." Skills. Lee Smedley, technical training and development manager at LKQ, added: "Apprentice+ has been informed by my experience mentoring LKQ's apprentices, as well as conversations with bodyshops and apprentices who have trained at LKQ Academy. "The programme is designed to give them an experience that we regularly hear they value: the chance to make mistakes and build skills in a supportive environment. It will expose participants to the full repair journey and help them understand how different bodyshop disciplines work together and allow them to learn from everyone around them. "By assessing apprentices at the end of each pathway, we can also help them recognise how far they've progressed, and then also where there's room for that little bit of further development." LKQ will welcome the first two cohorts of eight apprentices in September, with further intakes expected at the start of 2027.

LKQ Euro Car Parts introduces cost-effective oe-quality remanufactured range. * June 17, 2026 LKQ Euro Car Parts has launched the ERA Reman range of alternators and starter motors in the UK, giving independent workshops and fleets a new OE-level remanufactured option to better enable sustainable, affordable mobility for their customers. Built on more than 30 years' remanufacturing expertise, ERA Reman products are produced in state-of-the-art facilities in Europe. Each unit is remanufactured to OE specification, using OE parts where applicable - and in some cases improving OE - before undergoing rigorous testing to ensure dependable performance for workshops. Every ERA Reman unit therefore comes with a three-year warranty and a core return policy, helping to keep valuable cores in the remanufacturing loop. The range offers OE-level performance at a reasonable price point, giving workshops a high-quality and attractive alternative to new components. Sustainability has been considered at all levels. ERA Reman uses recyclable brown box packaging, reduced printing ink and minimal plastic, while still ensuring the eco package provides secure shipping. The launch comes at a time when data shows that 55% of UK workshops already fit remanufactured or used parts, but for most, these represent less than a quarter of total installations, according to LKQ's 2025 UK Voice of the Customer research. This highlights significant scope for growth in high-quality reman solutions. The range adds 1,400 SKUs to LKQ Euro Car Parts' more than 100,000-part catalogue, providing broad coverage and helping technicians source the right part quickly through its 250+ branch network. ERA Reman sits under the Emotive house of brands, for which LKQ is the number one distributor in Europe and the sole UK distributor. The launch forms part of LKQ's broader investment in remanufactured and recycled parts, including its recent joint venture with UK salvage specialist LKQ SYNETIQ to strengthen the supply of sustainable components across repair networks. Matt Robinson, B2B Director at LKQ Euro Car Parts said: "Technicians need rotating electric components they can trust - because if a newly-fitted alternator or starter motor fails, it can be costly in terms of both profit and reputation. "We're also seeing growing awareness in the sector for the role that remanufacturing plays in future proofing repairs. More garages are actively choosing remanufacturing solutions that offer reliable performance, while also helping to reduce waste and dependence on new materials. They understand that doing the job properly today can also support the long-term sustainability of the industry. We're proud to be meeting this demand, all the while offering a range that's competitive in terms of price and quality." June 17, 2026