Watch now…
On this week’s ARC360 on demand we catch up with: Kevern Thompson, commercial manager at CAPS; Steve Thompson, AutoRaise Vice Chairman and Chris Weeks, AutoRaise Trustee; and Jordan Fisher, managing director, Axiom UK.
Watch now: https://lnkd.in/gYQE-Jm
Claims volumes at 69% for May
Unique claims were at 69% of pre-pandemic levels in May 2021 – the highest level to date in 2021 – according to the latest CAPS Claims Analysis Report.
According to the revised monthly report from CAPS unique claim exchanges rose two percent between April 2021 and May 2021, whilst supply chain transmissions remained static at 73% of pre-pandemic levels.
Road traffic levels make strong return
Road traffic levels averaged 97.6% during the final week of May, with the last weekend of the month hitting an average 111% of pre-pandemic equivalents.
The Department for Transport (DfT) statistics highlight the use of transport modes across Great Britain, since 1 March 2020.
Meanwhile, the DfT’s All change? Travel tracker Wave 4 report – February-March 2021 suggests among all UK adults (including those outside employment), 29% reported working at home all of the time in the proceeding four weeks while less than half this proportion did so some of the time (13%). The incidence of working exclusively from home was higher in England (30%) compared to Wales (19%) and Scotland (25%).
Government introduces £3,000 apprenticeship incentive
The government has introduced a new £3,000 incentive scheme available to businesses hiring new apprentices.
The scheme covers new apprentices who have an employment start date of 1 April 2021 to 30 September 2021. The cash incentive is designed to help more employers invest in the skilled workforce they need for the future, as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “By boosting the cash incentives for our apprenticeship scheme we’re improving opportunities for young people to stay in and find work – this could not be more important in our economy’s recovery.”
The incentive payment is in addition to the £1,000 employers already receive for hiring an apprentice.
Steer moves into Scotland
Steer Automotive Group has acquired Bennett’s Scotland Ltd taking the business to 15 sites with 330 colleagues employed across the business.
The addition of the Bennett’s sites has significantly increased the geographic reach of Steer business operations which during 2021 has already seen new site openings at Tamworth and Luton plus the acquisition of Premier Panel Skills Ltd in Farnham.
Insurance fraud up by 10% during pandemic
Insurance claims tainted with fraud grew by 10% in 2020 during the height of the pandemic, leading UK insurer Aviva has found.
Aviva uncovered more than 12,000 instances of claims fraud in 2020, worth more than £113m.
Despite a fall in traffic volumes through multiple lockdowns, the proportion of fraud detected on motor injury claims grew by 20%. Whiplash fraud continues to represent the majority of detected fraud, accounting for 60% of all claims fraud detected.
Apollo opens site in Polegate
Apollo Motor Group has opened site number 16 with the addition of Apollo Polegate.
Founded in 1985, Apollo operates 16 sites across the South of England, employing more than 350 people.
Copart partners with IMDA
Copart Automotive – a specialist remarketing division dedicated to the fleet, finance, retail, and rental sectors – has partnered with The Independent Motor Dealers Association (IMDA) to provide members access to Copart’s global online marketplace for the remarketing and disposal of used cars.
IMDA members will also have access to dedicated account management support from Copart Automotive’s team throughout the entire sales process to ensure speed of sale.
The Independent Motor Dealers Association was formed to provide independent used vehicle retailers and dealerships with support, representation, and ‘a voice’.
FCA confirms loyalty penalty protection measures
The FCA has implemented a package of remedies to improve competition and protect home and motor insurance customers from loyalty penalties.
The remedies include new rules so that renewal quotes for home and motor insurance consumers are not more expensive than they would be for new customers.
These measures address the issues identified in the FCA’s September 2020 market study, which found that millions of home and motor insurance customers lose out if they renew repeatedly with their current providers. In 2018, six million loyal policyholders would have saved £1.2bn had they paid the average price for their actual risk.
Claims portal now live
The Official Injury Claim online service is now live as part of the government’s package of personal injury claims reforms.
The service – operated by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) on behalf of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) – can be used by individual claimants for low value (up to £5,000) road traffic accident (RTA) related personal injury claims, commonly referred to as ‘whiplash claims’.
These changes are part of a package of measures under the Whiplash Reform Programme aimed at tackling the high number and costs of whiplash claims which are predicted to save motorists around £35 a year on their insurance.
In a blog, ABI Director of General Insurance Policy, James Dalton described the introduction as a “a watershed moment in the much-needed reform of the UK’s civil justice system” providing a “a big win for consumers”.
To hear more about the reforms, register to join ILC’s roundtable event on Wednesday 9 June.
AW recognises long serving team members
AW Repair Group recognised some of its long serving team members during a recent ‘cheese and wine’ virtual meeting.
Founder & CEO Andrew Walsh recognised three team members with 20 years’ service each who received a watch, certificate and lapel badge, with a further seven team members highlighted for 10 years’ service including the company’s senior credit controller and the longest serving European team member – Saulius – who arrived unexpectedly at an AW site one day with his wife and a suitcase seeking a job.
ACIS CEO set to retire
After 21 years since he first established ACIS Ltd, CEO Graham O’Neill is to retire by year-end 2021 and will be handing over the reins to his successor.
Graham said, “I have loved the opportunity to create the most successful independent distribution network for the past two plus decades. We’ve generated many business opportunities and added considerable value to the industry over the years.
“During the next few months, I will be working as normal with the membership and the ACIS board while the business transitions.”
Activate opens site number four
Activate Accident Repair has reached the latest milestone in its £15m expansion plan with the opening of its fourth bodyshop.
The new Warrington site is the business’ largest repair centre to date at 24,000sqft with the capacity to repair up to 18 vehicles a day.
The purpose-built site is equipped with the latest technology, including the ability to repair structural composite materials, all safety features, EVs and HEVs.
Fix sites making moves
Fix Auto Mid Devon owner Louise Woolacott and her daughters Erika and Alena have opened the doors to Fix Auto Newton Abbot.
The 6,000sqft state-of-the-art repair centre has been designed and developed to complement their existing site and further cement the network’s position in the South West. When volumes allow, the new venue will have the capacity to repair more than 25 vehicles a week.
“It’s truly an exciting and pivotal moment for the business,” said Louise, “We have been talking about a secondary repair centre for more than five years and here we are, after so much hard work, with Fix Auto Newton Abbot finally open for business.”
Meanwhile, Fix Auto Penzance has become the UK’s first franchise partner to be classed as operating as carbon neutral. Owner Stuart Cameron and his team, supported by ECA Business Energy, have achieved the goal of being completely carbon neutral by meeting the guidelines outlined in the PAS 2060 specification.
Solus opens Castleford site
Solus Accident Repair Centres has opened its new site in Castleford, formerly part of the Glasshoughton Colliery.
The new addition is the second site opened by the Aviva Insurance owned network during 2021.
