On demand…
ARC360, in association with I Love Claims, brings you ARC360 on demand – a new series of digital shows to keep the industry updated on all the latest topics and trends.
Watch this week’s, inaugural, ARC360 on demand featuring:
- Market Intelligence with Paul Sell, director, Trend Tracker
- Hot Topics with Donna Scully, director/owner, Carpenters Group
- Interview with Chris Brightmore, CEO, Chartwell
- Business Insights with Mike Monaghan, business owner, Auto-Motivate
Zero carbon deadline a “huge challenge”
The Public Accounts Committee has said it will be a “huge challenge” to meet the governments ambitious targets to phase out new petrol and diesel cars by 2030 and for all new cars to be zero-emission from 2035.
Meg Hillier MP, Chair of the Committee, said: “The Government has a mountain to climb to get to all new cars in the UK emitting zero carbon in the next 14 years: to convince consumers and make the cars appealing, to make the car industry environmentally and socially compliant, to build the necessary infrastructure to support this radical shift and possibly biggest of all, to wean itself off carbon revenues.”
Copart sees rise in claims management
Copart is seeing demand continue to rise for its claims management services, as it expands its customer service functions and centralises its services.
Richard Howe, who brings a wealth of commercial, technical and claims experience, has been appointed to lead the continuing development of its Customer Excellence Centre was Richard Howe.
Copart opened its new Customer Excellence Centre in Bedford at the start of the year. The Centre houses its Claims Settlement, Customer Support Centre, and Operational Audit teams, alongside specialist IMI and AQP qualified engineers.
Trend Tracker – challenges but optimism
Trend Tracker’s ‘Emerging from COVID’ report – the first in its series of quarterly reports – reveals a challenging set of market dynamics but reveals optimism of a ‘bounce back’ on the horizon.
Emerging from COVID explores how the motor claims market has been impacted by COVID-19 and includes an analysis of the research company’s survey of more than 200 UK bodyshops.
“COVID-19 is accelerating change in the sector with many new insurance propositions and new entrants increasing investment, according to Willis Towers Watson, with funding during Q1 growing 180% compared to the first quarter of 2020,” explained Paul Sell, Associate Director of Industry Insights.
Meanwhile, Fix Auto UK has become the first Platinum Sponsor of Trend Tracker under its new Industry Insights ownership.
BRIT makes progress with IfATE
Body Repair Industry Trailblazer (BRIT) has received dispensation from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to allow more than 180 current apprentices to continue their learning journey.
The dispensation will see the first trials and tests of the End Point Assessment (EPA) for the Accident Repair Technician (ART) standard carried out at Emtec College in Nottingham. The process will be overseen by IMI which has been approved as an EPA Organisation for the ART standard apprenticeship.
Christine Maskill, Chair of BRIT, said, “I am thrilled that the young people, already held up due to COVID, will be able to demonstrate their ability and get their qualification in an organised, appropriate and meaningful way.”
Vehicle numbers see first fall in over a decade
Vehicle numbers on UK roads fell to 40,350,714 in 2020, according to Motorparc data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the first time the total number has fallen since the global financial crisis of 2009.
As the pandemic stifled new vehicle uptake, the average age of cars on UK roads is now the highest on record at 8.4 years. Van uptake, however, has grown to the highest level in history, accounting for 11.4% of all vehicles on the road.
The latest parc data illustrates that, for the second consecutive year, there were more than 35 million cars registered on UK roads (35,082,800), although that figure represents a modest -0.2% dip as Covid impacted new volumes entering the market.
Leaders rise to the Ben challenge
Automotive industry charity, Ben, has revealed its biggest ever Industry Leader Challenge fundraiser, The Climb, is set totake place from 30 October to 8 November 2021.
Challengers from LKQ Euro Car Parts; Marshall Motor Group; Haymarket; Partners& and Lawgistics; and JCT600 will climb one of the world’smost iconic peaks, Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise £300,000 for Ben.
Ben is inviting more automotive leaders and aspiring leaders to come forward and take part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
IMI makes diversity task force appointments
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has appointed three key automotive figures to Chair its Diversity Task Force Working Groups, under the overall leadership of Professor Jim Saker, President of the IMI.
Linda Jackson, CEO of the Peugeot brand is leading the Gender Identity Working Group; former Executive Chair of the IMI, Sarah Sillars OBE is Chair of the Physical & Non-Visible Disabilities Working Group; and automotive industry stalwart and Chairman of the IMI, Kevin Finn is heading the Race & Ethnicity Working Group.
Solera adds to portfolio
Solera Holdings Inc has acquired Omnitracs – a fleet management platform, and DealerSocket – a leading SaaS provider to the automotive industry.
Darko Dejanovic, Chief Executive Officer of Solera, said, “These highly strategic acquisitions will enable us to expand into adjacent verticals and capitalise on emerging trends in our industry.”
Listen up…
In this episode of the ARC360 podcast we catch up with Tony Ward, managing director of non-structural repair training specialists Cornerstone Technologies.
Tony provides us with an insight into his journey to get to where he is today highlighting the major milestones achieved to date. He talks collaboration and new ways of thinking; and gives his thoughts on skillsets; the ‘perfect’ repairer; and what the future may hold.
He also explains why snowboarding with a melon on your head might not be the best idea.
