ARC360 launches on demand series
ARC360, in association with I Love Claims, has launched ARC360 on demand – a new series of digital shows to keep the industry updated on all the latest topics and trends.
ARC360 on demand complements ARC360’s webinARCs which have grown to become the industry’s leading forum since they began in March 2020. The two will intersperse, bi-weekly for the future.
ARC360 on demand’s inaugural session, available from Wednesday at 1.30pm features Chris Brightmore, CEO, Chartwell; Mike Monaghan, business owner, Auto-Motivate; Donna Scully, director/owner, Carpenters; and Paul Sell, director, Trend Tracker.
Volvo reveals 2020 High Achievers
Volvo Car UK has revealed the regional winners of its 2020 High Achievers programme.
The programme’s criteria covers both key technical, commercial and business development areas, with points awarded during each month based on performance.
The winners:
- Region One – Lookers Colchester & Chaplane ARC
- Region Two – Stoneacre Chesterfield & Burrows Doncaster
- Region Three – Marshall Derby & Fix Auto Nottingham
- Region Four – Brindley Wolverhampton & Shorade ARC / Johnson Gloucester & MG Cannon
- Region Five – Donalds Garage Ipswich & DJ Mackenzies Ltd
- Region Six – Volvo Cars North London & AD Williams High Wycombe
- Region Seven – Volvo Cars Poole & Poole ARC
- Region Eight – Snows Winchester & Snows Accident Repair Centre
The overall winner will be announced at the High Achievers Winners ‘black tie’ Dinner held in June.
Copart rolls out Mental Health Management Training
Copart has added to its Mental Health Support Programme with a UK-wide roll out of Ben backed Management Training.
The training programme is designed to help managers spot the signs and symptoms of potential mental health issues amongst their direct team and provide support to those who may need it across the business.
Over 125 managers from across Copart’s 18 UK locations have now undertaken Ben’s ‘Managing Mental Health in the Workplace’ training, all now helping Copart take another step towards an even more open and supportive working culture.
IFB reveals ‘Crash for Cash’ hotspots
The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has released new figures that confirm the UK’s top 30 worst-affected postal districts for ‘Crash for Cash’ scams.
The hotspots analysis confirms Birmingham remains the most prevalent area in the UK for the dangerous scam, followed by postcodes in Bradford, Manchester, London and Luton.
IFB analysis of 2.7 million motor insurance claims made across the UK in between 1/10/2019 to 31/12/2020 has identified over 170,000 claims which could be linked to suspected ‘Crash for Cash’ networks.
Fix first for Amicus
Fix Auto UK has become the first repair network in the country to forge a close working partnership with Amicus, the industry’s latest national distribution network.
Created by Grove Group and Fleet Factors, the new organisation aims to bring together repair and refinish supplies through multiple organisations and form a single distribution network.
Ian Pugh, Fix Auto UK’s Managing Director, said: “Amicus has been born out of a close working partnership between Grove Group and Fleet Factors. Grove has been a major partner and supporter of ours since day one. They have supported our growth and our ambitions, we are just repaying the faith and support they have shown us.”
Momentum continues for Redde Northgate
Redde Northgate plc, which acquired Nationwide Accident Repair Services in September 2020 to create FMG Repair Services, expects to post pre-tax profits of ‘not less than’ £92m as momentum continues.
In a pre-close trading update for the year ended 30 April 2021, Martin Ward, CEO Redde Northgate said: “The second half of the year has delivered a strong set of results. The demand for LCV rental and used LCV sales has seen an uplift in H2 and sets the business up well going into our new financial year. Traffic volumes and resultant mobility and repair incidents continued to be suppressed throughout H2 but early indications, post lockdown restrictions easing in early April, have shown a strong bounce back as daily routines in mobility resume.”
Ben launches Annual Industry Survey
Ben has launched its Annual Industry Survey 2021 to ask the automotive community about the health and wellbeing challenges they have faced in the last 12 months, including the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.
This is the fourth time that Ben has run its survey which offers valuable insights to enable the charity to continue providing relevant support and services to automotive people in need. The results of the survey also help identify any additional services or support that automotive people think the charity should offer in the future.
Covéa and By Miles form partnership
Covéa Insurance and By Miles have partnered to bring pay-by-mile car insurance policies to more UK drivers.
The partnership between the two firms recognises increasing customer interest in usage-based motor insurance, which has gained momentum as a result of the pandemic. By Miles saw an over 150% increase in policy sales in March this year, compared with the same time in 2020.
Based on the premise that if you drive less, you pay less, the product provides inbuilt flexibility for motorists with low or variable mileage.
Pandemic slows EV charging device roll out
According to a government report, there has been a ‘noticeable decrease’ in the annual growth rate of EV charging devices during the past 12 months.
Since 2015, the number of public devices has grown by 43% per year, on average. Rapid devices have increased at a much higher rate, with an average annual increase of almost 61%.
However, the coronavirus pandemic may have had an effect on device growth, with the increase in total and rapid devices over the last 12 months being 27% and 37% respectively. This is a noticeable decrease in the annual growth in the preceding 12 months, with increases of 54% and 53%.
Working together for a greener future
The environment is soaring up the list of priorities for everyone. Whether business owners are responding to consumer pressure or whether they are acting ethically off their own backs is not relevant; all that matters is that ‘becoming green’ is now business-critical for almost every organisation in every sector.
However, this is a many-headed challenge in the complex and convoluted world of the automotive incident repair aftermarket, where every process is linked, and every company’s carbon footprint is impacted by everyone else on its supply chain.
In this special ARC360 feature, we look at some of the key players that need to come together to achieve a sustainable industry.
PI reforms to be discussed
ILC Motor will host a personal injury (PI) reforms roundtable on Wednesday 9 June 10-11.30am.
The special event will explore what the reforms mean for defendants, claimants and insurers as well as discuss the implications for the rest of the supply chain involved in personal injury claims.
