9WERKS Awards celebrates the best in the business
Industry excellence is rewarded at the black-tie ceremony, with Tony Hatter as guest of honour
9WERKS, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts created by Total 911 editor Lee Sibley, has conducted its inaugural awards evening to celebrate the finest in quality and customer service across the UK Porsche industry. Held on 7 April at Shorade Accident Repair in Staffordshire, one of a handful of Porsche Recommended body repairers in the UK, the 9WERKS Awards with Design911 presented nine trophies on the night to both personalities and businesses. On presentation duties that evening was the legendary 993, Carrera GT and GT1 designer Tony Hatter, who flew in from his home in Weissach to be guest of honour for the black tie event. The ceremony was attended by a sold-out audience of 80 guests, with many more watching live online via the 9WERKS TV YouTube and @9werks_lee Instagram channels.
Paragon Porsche won Best Porsche Sales, while Best Porsche Servicing went to the Oxfordshire concern, Wrightune. Singer Vehicle Design was recognised for its excellence with the Best International Specialist award, while RPM Technik took the gong for Best Porsche Tuner.
Remaining winners included Rare Car Finance, which took home Outstanding Customer Service, while Derek Bell MBE added to his collection of trophies by claiming Best 9WERKS Radio podcast Guest. Shorade won Best Restoration for its 986 Boxster 25th Anniversary project, before Seán Matthews of RennEleven took home Personality of the Year for his work in promoting the modified Porsche scene in the UK.
“The 9WERKS Awards with Design911 has been a resounding success for two reasons,” said Lee. “Firstly, it’s brought the majority of the UK Porsche industry under one roof for one night, allowing our guests to put faces to names and encourage further co-operation going forwards, for the benefit of enthusiasts. Secondly, and more importantly, in promoting excellence the awards have raised the bar for quality and exceptional customer experience across our industry. Our awards are highly coveted and act as the one true, independent marker of quality to enthusiasts across the country.”
Voting took place in two stages. 9WERKS Members cast their votes, before a nine-strong independent panel cast their votes separately, with mystery shopping used to ensure all prizes were awarded for excellence rather than popularity. More information on the awards, including a highlights gallery, can be found at 9werks.co.uk.