Claims volumes show 5% increase
Claims exchange volumes increased by five per cent and supply chain transmissions by seven per cent week ending 17 April according to the CAPS Claims Analysis Report.
The uplift in figures comes off the back of a slight downturn since the end of March – a period which included the bank holidays, Easter breaks and further easing of restrictions.
CAPS commercial manager, Kevern Thompson said, “An increase is starting to emerge. There is still a way to go, but the latest report is encouraging for most.”
Reasons to be cheerful
ARC360’s webinARC 3.6 was all about hope for the future, encouraging repairers to look ahead to better days and, crucially, providing the data to back up this optimism.
While acknowledging that the last year has been the ultimate annus horribilis for the automotive aftermarket, the session, Back to Business, also highlighted the trends – from traffic volumes to claims volumes – that indicate a significant upturn in the coming months.
Fix Auto Oldbury becomes latest network franchisee
Fix Auto UK has further strengthened its proposition in the West Midlands with Black Country-based A Thompson Motor Bodies joining the network.
The 30,000sqft business, with capacity to repair up to 75 vehicles a week, will operate as Fix Auto Oldbury and is the organisation’s 109th franchise partner. The new addition complements the network’s existing sites within the immediate region including Fix Auto Wednesbury Central, Fix Auto Walsall, Fix Auto Birmingham North, Fix Auto Birmingham East and Fix Auto Kings Norton.
Activate completes fourth site in weeks
Activate Accident Repair has completed the development of its purpose-built Warrington site, the fourth in its network, in just a few weeks.
Victoria Turner, CEO of Activate Accident Repair said, “Warrington is our fourth purpose-built bodyshop, and the start of an ambitious build programme that will see us open one to two sites a month from now on. Working with our partners at ABSL, we make sure that each site is designed with customer priorities in mind.”
Warrington is Activate Accident Repair’s biggest bodyshop yet at 24,000sqft.
ACIS signs up eighth distribution member
As part of its ‘Agility 2025’ strategic business programme, ACIS Ltd has signed up its eighth distribution network member – Paint Services.
The addition of Paint Services and its four locations (Paint Services – Reading; Paint Services – Cheltenham; Total Paint Services – Southampton; and Total Concept Paints – Chichester) is part of ACIS’ ongoing commitment to align its independent distribution network with the needs of the repair market.
A ninth member will be announced in June bringing the total number of locations up to 53 with total sales of around £80m.
Atlanta acquires assets from Be Wiser
Atlanta, The Ardonagh Group’s Retail platform, has signed an agreement to purchase certain trade and assets of personal lines insurance broker Be Wiser.
Be Wiser has in the region of 100,000 live policyholders across car, van, bike, travel and home insurance with Feefo Platinum Trusted status.
Upon completion, the Be Wiser brand will operate within Atlanta alongside Swinton, Autonet, Carole Nash and Marmalade and it is the intention that 189 Be Wiser colleagues will transfer to Atlanta.
Atlanta is a leading digital multi-brand personal insurance broker with over 2.6 million customers.
TDN Group earns kickstart approval
TDN Group Ltd and AXIOM Accident Repair UK have been approved as a Kickstart Scheme employer.
The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to employers to create jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit.
In a LinkedIn Post, Kelly King, Human Resources Manager at Axiom Accident Repair UK, said, “We are really looking forward to developing our program to attract and nurture our future workforce. I think this initiative greatly helps businesses looking to invest in youth employment.”
Brandon ARC achieves carbon neutral status
Independent repairer Brandon ARC has achieved carbon neutral status in accordance with PAS2060 through its partnership with ECA Business Energy.
Paul King, owner of Brandon ARC, said, “I’m really proud that we have been able to become carbon neutral at this relatively early stage of the industries push to become more environmentally friendly
“ECA were brilliant, as were my team, in taking this journey to reduce our emissions but as importantly, it allowed us to look at some basic and well-established business practices and make changes that we possibly wouldn’t have otherwise considered”.
Ex-Solera founder takes up new CEO post
Ex-Solera founder, Tony Aquila has become Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles-based mobility technology company, Canoo.
Aquila, who was already Executive Chairman and one of the company’s largest investors, will now lead Canoo in its focused strategy of bringing the company’s best-in-class electric vehicles (EVs) to the masses.
In 2005, Aquila founded Solera Holdings Inc and led it as Chairman and CEO to a $1bn initial public offering in 2007, and in the following years sourced and executed over 50 acquisitions. He oversaw Solera’s $6.5bn transaction from a public-to-private business in 2016.
Match of the day…
The European Super League may have stolen the headlines this week but the footballing world’s attentions are now turned to Peterborough United on 27 May for the Plunky’s All Stars annual charity football match.
Organised by Steve Plunkett, Volvo body and paint business development manager, in support of blood cancer charity – Anthony Nolan – this year’s match against FLK Mercenaries FC marks the eighth outing for Plunky’s All Stars raising over £30,000 for charity in the process.
To support Steve’s fundraising efforts this year, click here.
