Applications to speak at The Blend 2026 are now open, ahead of the widely anticipated return of the UK’s premier conference and networking event for independent garage owners. The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10 October 2026.

Renowned for championing the independent garage sector, The Blend has earned a reputation for giving garage voices a national platform. Organisers are inviting garage owners, managers and industry professionals to share practical insights, business strategies, and real-world success stories with peers.

Ray Dilsons, Event Director at The Blend, said its community-led ethos remains at the heart of its appeal: “We’re looking for genuine stories that will connect with ambitious garage owners. You don’t need to be a professional speaker. If you’ve improved your workshop, strengthened customer relationships, or taken your business to the next level, there’s something in your experience that others can learn from.”

The conference programme will again feature multiple speaker tracks running simultaneously, allowing delegates to tailor the day to their interests, alongside a busy exhibition showcasing leading trade suppliers.

Following the daytime sessions, attendees will move into the evening awards dinner, hosted by behavioural science and marketing expert Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK and author of Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don’t Make Sense. Internationally recognised for his TED Talks and work on consumer psychology, Rory will offer insights highly relevant to workshops looking to enhance customer communication, perceived value, and profitability.

What began in 2019 as a small Garage Hive user conference has grown into a flagship industry event for independent garages across the UK and Ireland. Today, The Blend attracts hundreds of workshop owners and managers each year and is widely regarded as the benchmark gathering for garages aiming to operate at, or beyond, main dealer standards.

“The focus is on sharing ideas, raising standards and helping garages improve,” said Ray. “Year on year, more attendees come from non-Garage Hive workshops, many citing real value from the speakers, peer learning and networking.

The speaker application process is simple, requiring only a short background summary and outline topic via the online form: https://www.theblend.events/speakers. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2026.

Further information about The Blend is available at: https://www.theblend.events/.

PR produced by Autotech Communications.