December 2021 - Page 3 of 3

Steer expands southern presence

7 December 2021

Bodyshop, People, Supplier, Vehicle Repair and Words

Steer Automotive Group has acquired Lookers Maidstone Mercedes-Benz and VAG approved Accident Repair Centre.

Maidstone formed part of the Lookers Mercedes-Benz south region, and Steer will continue to support the Mercedes-Benz retailers in the area for all structural repairs, working closely with the groups chosen accident management partner.

In addition to the acquisition of Steer Prestige Maidstone, the group has also opened Steer Chatham after months of development.

Steer Automotive Group now operates with a turnover of over £60m per year, from 22 sites across the South of England, Midlands, North East and Scotland, employing over 400 team members and repairing in excess of 30,000 vehicles per year.

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Jon Parker joins Halo Accident Repair Centres

3 December 2021

Bodyshop, Insurance, People, Supplier, Technology, Vehicle Repair and Words

Halo Accident Repair has appointed Jon Parker as Business Intelligence Director.

Jon’s role will be to support the rapid growth of the group, help shape organisational processes and develop innovative solutions for Halo’s insurer partners and their customers.

Bradley Hanson, Halo’s Director of Innovation said, “Whilst many bodyshop groups have tried to create ‘sleeker’ and more efficient businesses, it’s Halo that have done it and are consistently able to make it happen.

“Jon’s appointment forms part of Halo’s new ‘Customer Design Team’ who will consult, implement and manage multiple service options/experiences designed for the future of our B2B partners needs, while consistently providing our extraordinary service to our B2C customers.

“Jon is an innovator, with a proven history of thinking differently and outside the box and that’s why he is an excellent fit for Halo.”

Jon added, “I’m very excited to join such a progressive business as Halo, whose thinking, processes and vision are so similar to my own. I truly believe that my experience in Systems Thinking, Lean practices and Theory of Constraints will help Halo to grow from being an already extraordinary business, into a world leader.”

Halo currently operates 11 repair facilities in the UK and is part of the IRS Group, which owns over 170 bodyshop’s in Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Belgium.

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ARC360 News Round Up – Friday 3 December 2021

3 December 2021

Bodyshop, Environment, Insurance, People, Salvage, Supplier, Technology, Training, Vehicle Repair and Words

ARC360 Back to the Future Showreel

Register now to watch the edited showreel from ARC360’s Back to the Future event which took place this week at the British Motor Museum. This 30-minute showreel (1.30-2.00pm Wednesday 8 December) brings together some of the key takeaways shaping the industry today and into the future.

Register now

Tyne is right for Steer

Steer Automotive Group has increased its presence in the North East with the acquisition of Tyne Tees Vehicle Repair Group (TTVRG). Founded in 1970 and now boasting five sites in the region, TTVRG is a family-owned business with well-established accident management and insurer client relationships and a turnover of £8.3m reported in its most recent filed accounts.

The multi-award-winning Steer Automotive Group will support TTVRG’s further development in the region with investment in technology and geographical reach.

CAPS enhances security protocols

CAPS has enhanced its security and compliance protocols by updating its data schema, which defines the scope and validation of data shared on the platform during a motor claim.

The latest version enables CAPS to validate new values while reflecting the growing integration of claims and systems used both within the application and bodyshop sectors. New fields introduced also enable work providers to add more context to the insurance provision for a claim; for example, whether the excess has been waived.

Shepherd joins Advantage Parts Solutions board

Dave Shepherd has joined the global team of Advantage Parts Solutions as Non-Executive Director. Shepherd, whose distinguished career includes roles with the Institute of the Motor Industry, Thatcham Research and Solera, has been appointed to help steer the company’s long-term strategic plan in the OEM parts supply space.

Advantage Parts Solutions’ Co-Founder and CEO Bob Kirstiuk said, “For over 30 years Dave has been regarded as one of Europe’s most brilliant automotive minds, and it’s an honour to have his expertise on the team. His career insights will become extraordinarily valuable to the team as we continue to optimise the OEM parts supply chain.”

Fix Auto UK develops Midlands network

Fix Auto UK has continued its expansion in the Midlands with the announcement that Bowles Vehicle Repair has joined its network and will now operate as Fix Auto Leicester.

The appointment comes after extensive development which has seen three near derelict farm buildings replaced with two interconnecting units totalling more than 11,000 sqft. One has been laid out specifically with 13 workbays for all panel and strip and fit work and the second is a dedicated paint shop complete with three booths, one for LCVs.

Repairify continues growth strategy

Repairify has completed the acquisition of One Guard Inspections for an undisclosed sum. One Guard Inspections is a Texas-based vehicle inspection company with a network of thousands of certified inspectors covering the United States and Canada.

The deal is part of Repairify’s continued growth strategy and will enable it to move into new market segments, such as vehicle diagnostics and mechanical failures.

Vella Group celebrates first female VDA

The Vella Group has announced that Jordanna Callaghan has become its first fully-trained female VDA. She has worked as a VDA assistant at the LV=General Insurance Sole Supply Site in Deeside for two years, but has shown the attitude and aptitude to go further and having completed her training will take up her new position in the coming months.

The Group said, “We’re committed to operating an inclusive and equal environment and hope to sell our industry as a fantastic place for women to achieve too.”

Redde Northgate reports strong interim results

Redde Northgate has published its interim results for the six months ending 31 October, reporting a 21.9% increase in revenues to £522.9m from the same period last year.

This is above board expectations and driven by a return of accident and incident volumes to about 90% of pre-Covid-19 levels. Business highlights from the period include significant new multi-year contract wins with the likes of Tesco, Admiral and another major insurer with lifetime contract revenues in excess of £200m.

e2e under new leadership

Jim Loughran has taken over from Neil Joslin at the head of e2e Total Loss Vehicle Management (e2e).

He brings with him 30 years’ experience with blue chip brands including BT, Disney, ING Bank, QBE Insurance and Rolls Royce Aerospace, and has a strong track record in affecting business transformation and servicing customers within technology-led organisations.

Halfords continues motor services evolution

Halfords has agreed to purchase tyre and automotive servicing, maintenance and repair company Axle Group Holdings on a cash-free, debt-free basis for £62m. The acquisition, expected to complete on 9 December, is part of Halfords’ wider strategy to focus more on motoring services.

Post-completion, it expects to have 604 garages, 234 consumer vans and 190 commercial vans. Including retail stores this will mean a combined total of over 1,400 fixed or mobile motoring services locations.

Lookers adopts AX aftercare solution

UK motor retailer Lookers has selected AX to deliver a seamless accident aftercare solution to its customers. It will be introduced at 129 Lookers sites and is expected to increase revenues and improve customer retention through better aftercare service.

As part of the partnership, AX’s account management team has delivered comprehensive in-person and virtual training for Lookers employees.

Going the distance for charity

The Grove Group’s Kate Chaplin has raised more than £600 for the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity by walking over 500,000 steps during November. She took a total of 503,091 steps in the month, an equivalent of 10 miles a day, and has so far raised £615 for the worthy cause.

Kate’s page is still open for donations

Carzam muscles into online retail space

Carzam has secured £112m of investment in its first year of trading and is now pledging to take the fight to online car retailers Cazoo and Cinch. It expects to generate first-year revenues of £150m from nearly 13,500 individual sales.

Founded by BMW chief executive Peter Waddell, Carzam promises to deliver used cars nationwide within 24 hours, while also offering buyers a 14-day window to decide whether to keep the vehicle, and a 100-day guarantee.

Pothole payments pass £16m

Drivers in the UK received more than £16m in compensation for pothole damage caused to their vehicles between 2018 and 2020.

The information was revealed by webuyanycar following a Freedom of Information request to every council and borough in the UK. It found that 2.48 million potholes were reported during that period.

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Fix Auto UK grows Midlands footprint

3 December 2021

Bodyshop, People, Supplier, Vehicle Repair and Words

Fix Auto UK has continued its Midlands expansion with the appointment of Bowles Vehicle Repair, which will now operate at Fix Auto Leicester.

The appointment comes after Managing Director Kevin Shaw and Bodyshop Manager Daniel Line have overseen a full programme of investment which has seen three near derelict farm buildings replaced with two interconnecting units totalling more than 11,000 sqft. One has been laid out specifically with 13 workbays for all panel and strip and fit work and the second is a dedicated paint shop complete with three booths, one for LCVs.

Kevin said, “Since rebranding the business four years ago, we have been working tirelessly towards this moment where we can now say we’re part of an organisation, something far bigger and far more established than we could ever be as a stand-alone business.

“We recognised long ago that if we were to fulfil our own aspirations, we needed to be part of a larger organisation, one that provides experience and business support we crave which is why we turned to Fix Auto UK.”

Ian Pugh, Managing Director of Fix Auto UK, said: “We are in an enviable position where we are now attracting businesses to the network that are more than willing to match any ambitions they have with significant investment from the outset.

“Kevin and the shareholders behind Fix Auto Leicester approached us with their plans and were open and honest about the mind of support and guidance they believed they needed to enable their new site to meet its full potential. I am delighted to say this is yet another exciting new franchise partner on board who I know will only add further strength to our incredible network.”

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Shepherd joins Advantage Parts Solutions board

2 December 2021

Bodyshop, People, Supplier and Words

Advantage Parts Solutions has announced that Dave Shepherd has joined its global team as Non-Executive Director.

Shepherd has been appointed to help steer the company’s long-term strategic plan in the OEM parts supply space.

Advantage Parts Solutions’ Co-Founder and CEO Bob Kirstiuk said, “For over 30-years Dave has been regarded as one of Europe’s most brilliant automotive minds, and it’s an honour to have his expertise on the team. His career insights will become extraordinarily valuable to the team as we continue to optimize the OEM parts supply chain.

“Dave’s unique background and industry leadership will allow the Advantage team to continue our pursuit of delivering unparalleled and distinguishable value to the market. In addition, as Dave comes onboard, Advantage will look to create a new industry standard of integrating the first-notice-of-loss (FNOL) and vehicle dispatching process with the OEM parts supply chain.”

Shepherd spent 13 years as Regional Managing Director of Solera’s International Region and before that he was an executive consultant for various collision repair brands, Thatcham Research, and the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

He said, “Advantage is uniquely positioned to deliver value to the global automotive sector in a way the industry has never seen before. Advantage will drive value and efficiencies propelling the industry forward by a significant measure. Advantage’s proprietary software platform delivers value by reducing key-to-key cycle time, reduce claim expense, and increase vehicle owner satisfaction; by deploying a more sophisticated solution.”

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Steer completes key north-east acquisition

1 December 2021

Bodyshop, Insurance, People, Supplier, Technology, Training, Vehicle Repair and Words

Tyne Tees Vehicle Repair Group (TTVRG), with five sites across the north-east of England, has been acquired by Steer Automotive Group.

Founded in 1970, Tyne Tees Vehicle Repair Group is a family-owned business employing 64 people across its five sites. The business boasts well-established accident management and insurer client relationships, and a reported turnover of £8.3m in its most recent filed accounts.

The acquisition by the multi-award winning Steer Automotive Group will support further development in the region, with investment in technology, geographical reach, and people supporting TTVRG’s already substantial success in the area.

TTVRG owner and managing director, Darren Norton, has joined the Steer Automotive Operations board as part of the deal, and will play a key role in the Group’s future strategy to broaden its footprint both inside and outside the north-east region.

Darren said: “This is an exciting moment for our business as we join an ambitious and progressive group in which all of our existing employees, suppliers and customers can thrive. I am looking forward to continuing to lead and grow TTVRG’s outstanding workforce backed by the expertise and resources of our new colleagues within Steer Automotive.”

Steer Automotive chief executive, Richard Steer, commented: “This is another important step in our ongoing growth plans as we continue to deliver our vision for Steer Automotive. From the outset, it has been clear that TTVRG are outstanding operators and will be an excellent addition to our group. The north-east is a terrific region in which to do business and we are looking forward to expanding our profile and service offering here with support from Darren and his team.”

Steer Automotive Group now operates with a turnover of £60m per annum from 21 sites across the Midlands, north-east and Scotland employing over 400 team members and repairing in excess of 30,000 vehicles per year.

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CAPS updates data standard

1 December 2021

Bodyshop, Car Rental, Insurance, Mobility, Salvage, Supplier, Technology, Training, Vehicle Repair and Words

Data exchange platform CAPS has updated its data schema to keep pace with the changes in the types of motor claims data while also enhancing security, integrity and compliance.

The CAPS schema defines the scope of the data shared on the platform and its validation during a motor claim.

The latest version enables it to validate new values while reflecting the growing integration of claims and systems used both within the application and bodyshop sectors. New fields introduced also enable work providers to add more context to the insurance provision for a claim; for example, whether the excess has been waived.

David Neave, Chair of the CAPS National Advisory Council, said, “We continue to develop CAPS to ensure that it provides effortless and seamless data transfer for everyone across the motor claims sector. It is essential for insurers, bodyshops and all other organisations in the repair ecosystem to know that they can rely on CAPS to communicate 100% of the data processed during a claim.”

The CAPS schema will be reviewed every quarter and update as necessary to meet new industry requirements.