Strategic focus and operational excellence earn HiQ Tyres & Autocare 2026 Tyre Industry Award
In a sector navigating diverse economic headwinds, standout performance comes down to a relentless commitment to operational quality, strategic expansion, and community trust. This was demonstrated at the 97th annual National Tyre Distribution Association (NTDA) awards ceremony in Birmingham, where HiQ Tyres & Autocare was crowned Tyre Retailer of the Year. The prestigious accolade evaluates the entirety of a business, recognising exceptional standards across leadership, network innovation, staff development, customer care, and corporate social responsibility.
Scaling with a flexible hybrid model
HiQ’s path to the top has been defined by impressive and resilient growth. In a market where many competitors face stagnation, the network has expanded its footprint from 190 contracted points-of-sale in 2024 to nearly 290 today. This remarkable scaling is the result of an agile business model that seamlessly integrates brand-owned stores, franchises, mobile tyre servicing vehicles, and strategic service partners. By diversifying its operational channels, HiQ has successfully enhanced accessibility for local communities, retail drivers, and major fleet clients alike.
Operational rigour and customer-centric standards
At the core of the brand’s success is a rigorous approach to customer satisfaction and quality assurance. HiQ maintains an impressive 4.8-star Trustpilot rating derived from more than 13,000 customer reviews. Rather than treating these figures as passive metrics, the company enforces an active feedback loop where any rating below four stars triggers an immediate internal investigation and resolution process.
This dedication to quality is subject to independent scrutiny through regular network audits conducted by the CAR Consulting Group. Assessing locations against more than 200 criteria, spanning technical competence to customer satisfaction, the most recent audit saw a record number of centres achieve Platinum or Gold accreditation, with over 90 per cent reaching Silver status or higher. Complementing these high operational standards, approximately 90 per cent of locations have now implemented the brand’s modern corporate identity, ensuring a professional, consistent customer journey from the roadside to the waiting room.
Cultivating the next generation of talent
Beyond daily retail operations, HiQ continues to invest heavily in the future of the automotive industry. The company places a strong emphasis on talent development, exemplified by its second annual apprentice experience day. This initiative took network apprentices behind the scenes of the British Touring Car Championship, allowing them to collaborate with professional motorsport engineers and gain hands-on experience working on road-legal race cars in a high-pressure paddock environment. This immersive learning is reinforced by ongoing mentoring frameworks and the allocation of a dedicated business consultant to every centre to help drive growth and exceed performance targets.
Community impact and sustainable stewardship
HiQ’s business philosophy extends far beyond commercial success, deeply embedding itself in social and environmental responsibility. The network maintains a long-running philanthropic partnership with Breast Cancer Now, raising more than £165,000 through collaborative fundraising efforts led by head office employees, franchisees, service partners, and customers during campaigns like Project Pink. Concurrently, the brand demonstrates strong environmental stewardship through partnerships with Fraser Evans & Sons Ltd and Oil Salvage Ltd, ensuring that scrap tyres and excess oil are responsibly repurposed to minimise the network’s ecological footprint.
Reflecting on the achievement, Craig Sprigmore, retail director at HiQ Tyres & Autocare, noted that the award is a testament to the collective dedication of centre teams, service partners, apprentices, and head office colleagues. He elaborated: “They put customers first every day and hold themselves to the same high standards across every centre across the nation. We have seen exceptional growth in recent years, at a time when the industry is showing signs of struggle, and this award recognises all of the efforts that have gotten us to the position we find ourselves in today. We are thankful to the NTDA and judges for recognising this commitment and take this as great encouragement to continue investing in our people and customers.”