ARC360 news round up – Friday 10 February 2023       

Crash. Detect. Settle. Digitising the motor claims journey. 

We all know how important it is to begin the claims process as soon as possible following a collision – doing so within 24 hours offers multiple benefits and savings. What if you could speed the process up even more? During this showcase webinar session, viewers gain an insight into Solera Mentor by eDriving. 

ILC unveils New Generation to bridge skills gap 

ILC will address the skills and talent needs within insurance at a new event taking place in April. 

Headline sponsored by specialist training provider Wiser Academy, the inaugural ILC New Generation in Claims event will take place at etc.venues Manchester on 26 April, aimed at everyone who is impacted directly or indirectly by a lack of new talent entering the industry and the challenges associated with keeping skillsets ahead of the curve. 

Industry rallies behind National Apprenticeship Week 

Leaders in the automotive aftermarket have been busy this week promoting the sector to next generation talent as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2023. 

AutoRaise, Copart, Gemini ARC, Indasa and Steer Automotive Group were among those celebrating the successes of apprentices and encouraging more young people to consider a career in the sector. 

Squad UK announced for WorldSkills Competition 

WorldSkills UK has announced its squad of 94 young people that will represent GB at the 47th WorldSkills Competition, taking place in Lyon, France, in September 2024. 

Halo expansion continues apace 

Halo ARC has cut the ribbon on its 19th centre, Halo Swindon, and announced that it is well on the way to opening site number 20. 

BMS Eclipse and Edenbridge extend relationship 

BMS Eclipse has completed the installation of its bodyshop management system at Edenbridge Accident Repair Group’s new site at Biggin Hill.  

This builds on a long-term relationship with the group that goes back to the original Edenbridge site 18 years ago. 

Plug-ins drive new car market bounce 

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has reported that one in five new vehicle registrations in January were plug-ins. It expects that to increase to one in four during 2023. 

Meanwhile, used EV transactions rose by 37.5% last year to a record 71,071, although the overall used car market fell by 8.5% to 6,890,777. 

Fix Auto Basingstoke achieves PAS 2060 

Fix Auto Basingstoke has become the latest franchise partner to achieve PAS 2060 certification. 

The Hampshire-based repairer worked with Purchase Direct to calculate its carbon footprint and then establish a bespoke net zero programme which outlines specific targets for energy reduction and a carbon offsetting plan. 

VisionTrack unveils video tech ‘game-changer’ 

AI video telematics specialist VisionTrack has launched a new solution that it believes can transform commercial fleet safety while reducing insurance costs. 

Repairify invests in technical expertise 

Repairify has strengthened its technical sales expertise and enhance customer service with two key appointments. 

Daren Nichol has been promoted internally to Technical Sales Executive for the Midlands from his position as Remote Technician, while Jamie Willis has joined from Solera as Technical Sales Executive for the South. 

FCA outlines Consumer Duty expectations 

The FCA has stepped up its support for companies preparing for the implementation of the Consumer Duty regulations, which come into force on 31 July. 

Compliance to Consumer Duty will require all organisations to be able to prove that they are making customer outcomes their priority in every area of business. 

Charles Trent welcomes new apprentices 

Green parts providers Charles Trent has marked National Apprenticeship Week by recruiting five new apprentices to the business. 

Neil Joslin, Chief Operating Officer, said, “We’re looking forward to welcoming Charlotte, Charlotte, Francis, Jack & Rory into their new career with us.” 

People 

Ruth Moring-Beale will step up from her role as National Sales Director at Morelli Group to become Director for Strategy and Growth. Mark Moring will take over her sales position. 

Steer Automotive Group has appointed Chloe Sinfield a Site Manager at Steer Aylesbury. 

Paul Buckingham has been named UK Market Manager for Sherwin-Williams. 

GT Motive has named Steven Hames as new Business Development Manager.  

S&G Response has appointed Paul Chance as Network Manager for the south.  

e2e Total Loss Vehicle Management has appointed Chris Hulls as Business Development Manager.  

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ARC360 news round up – Friday 3 February 2023       

Crash. Detect. Settle. Digitising the motor claims journey. 

We all know how important it is to begin the claims process as soon as possible following a collision – doing so within 24 hours offers multiple benefits and savings. What if you could speed the process up even more? During this showcase webinar session, viewers gain an insight into Solera Mentor by eDriving. 

Optimising the claims journey: A partner’s perspective 

Optimising the claims journey means different things to different stakeholders. But as costs and customer expectations continue to rise, the need for effective claims management has never been greater. Here, we have canvassed the opinions of some of our partners for their take on efficiency gains within claims, and how their solutions are optimising the journey. 

Insurance inflation reaches eight per cent 

The ABI has revealed that average motor insurance premiums rose by eight per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022. 

Its latest Motor Insurance Premium Tracker found that average premiums increased to £470, which is seven per cent higher than they were in the same period of 2021. 

Enterprise Holdings publishes ESG achievements 

Enterprise Holdings has revealed that nearly 20,000 employees were promoted or took on new challenges in the last year. 

Its 2022 ESG Report – The Road Ahead, Reimagined – also reported that 450,000 of its vehicles are now connected, while 45% of the Enterprise Car Club fleet is now electric or hybrid. Furthermore, 41.4% of waste from its EMEA headquarters was used to generate renewable electricity for the National Grid. 

Steer Group enhances NE footprint 

Steer Automotive Group has continued its growth strategy with the acquisition of North East Accident Repair Centres. 

NEARC operates three sites in Newcastle, Sunderland and Darlington and takes the combined Steer Group operation to 60 sites with 1,400 staff and the capability to repair 85,000 vehicles per annum. 

Castle Coachworks secures prestige badge 

Castle Coachworks in Northampton has achieved full Tesla approval. Accreditation follows manufacturer-specific factory training and in-house auditing. 

Walton retains Nissan approval 

Walton Accident Repair has retained its Nissan approval for another year after a full audit. 

Automotive apprentice numbers below UK average 

The UK automotive industry is in the bottom third of all sectors when it comes to taking on new apprentices. 

According to the IMI’s Automotive Education Report, just 52% of automotive apprentices are supported by the Apprenticeship Levy scheme, compared to a national average of 65%. 

LKQ expands European salvage network   

LKQ Europe has acquired Dutch-based Rhenoy Group, a leading supplier of remanufactured engines and recycled OEM car parts.  

Varun Laroyia, Chief Executive Officer of LKQ Europe, said, “This acquisition reinforces our ongoing commitment to offer affordable and sustainable mobility across our European markets.”   

People 

Dawn Marsden has taken on a new role as Head of Claims Supplier Management at Esure. 

Tony Lover has been appointed Quality and Performance Manager at Nationwide Vehicle Assistance. 

National Accident Repair Group has named Richard Ketley as Network Communication and Compliance Manager. 

Michael van der Sande has returned to the automotive industry as Managing Director of Lucid Europe. 

3M has appointed Michael Massey as Global Senior Application Engineer for AAD Paint Finishing Systems. 

Robert Curley has started a new position as Head of Strategic Network Relationships UK & Ireland at Activate Group. 

Deputy WorldSkills UK CEO Ben Blackledge will take over as interim CEO when Dr Neil Bentley-Gockmann OBE steps down after seven years at the helm. 

ARC360 Podcast: Dean Lander 

In this episode – recorded late in 2022 – we speak with Dean Lander, Head of Repair Sector Services at the insurers’ automotive research centre – Thatcham Research.

 

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ARC360 news round up – Friday 27 January 2023       

ARC360 Podcast: Dean Lander 

In this episode – recorded late in 2022 – we speak with Dean Lander, Head of Repair Sector Services at the insurers’ automotive research centre – Thatcham Research. 

Car insurance premiums on upward trajectory 

Comprehensive car insurance prices rose for the fifth quarter in a row to reach an average price of £629. 

According to the Confused.com Car Insurance Price Index, produced in association with WTW, premiums rose seven per cent in the last three months of 2022 to cap a 19% overall increase throughout the year. 

FCA warns of waning Consumer Duty focus 

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has warned that some companies are falling behind in their planning for the introduction of the Consumer Duty regulations. 

Consumer Duty, which will require evidential proof that companies are putting customers first in every area of their business, comes into force on 31 July. 

EV influence grows at Euro NCAP 

Full electric vehicles made up more than a third of all models tested by Euro NCAP last year. 

According to its annual Year in Numbers review, 22 of the 65 models tested were zero-emission EVs. Meanwhile, five out of its six Best in Class winners were also electric. 

Diversity Network launched to promote inclusion 

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has launched the Automotive Diversity Network, enabling Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) leaders to share best practices and help the sector develop a more inclusive workforce. 

Car production falls to 66-year low despite EV spike 

UK car production fell to the lowest level in 66 years in 2022 as the crippling global shortage of semiconductors decimated manufacturing. 

Output through the year was 9.8% down from 2021 and a worrying 40.5% lower than pre-pandemic 2019, when 1,303,135 units were produced compared to 775,014 last year. 

IMI appoints new Centre of Excellence 

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) has named Lincoln College as its latest IMI TechSafe Centre of Excellence.  

It is the first further education college in the UK to offer specific EV and ADAS qualifications, while also teaching staff and trainers from other institutions. 

Ben offers up London Marathon places 

Automotive charity Ben is offering colleagues in the automotive industry the opportunity to take part in the world-famous London Marathon. 

It has also launched a new virtual challenge, Benathon, which takes place in March. 

Claims figures fall to lowest recorded level 

The latest data from the Compensation Recovery Unit (CRU) has revealed a sharp fall in the number of injury claims. 

The number of motor injury claims has nearly halved (44% reduction) since 2018, with the 84,247 claims submitted during the latest quarter of 2022 the lowest figure on record. 

People 

Toyota Insurance Services Europe has appointed Paul Collins as Performance & Partnership Manager. 

Direct Line Insurance Group CEO Penny James has stepped down with immediate effect. 

Ageas has appointed Rashmi Rao Chief Information Officer (CIO) while Stephen Linklater has been named Claims Director. 

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ARC360 news round up – Friday 30 September 

What the data tells us

The exclusive motor conference next week will see four data presentations on specific specialist areas. This will be followed by a panel discussion to decipher how the data all interlinks and what more might it be able to tell us about how insurers are ‘advancing’ when it comes to claims.

Click here to see the full agenda!

Fix Auto UK announces new apprenticeship partner

Fix Auto UK has announced a new partnership intended to enhance and improve apprenticeship recruitment and development throughout its network.

AutoRaise Rally set to break £200,000 barrier 

The AutoRaise Rally is on track to break the £200,000 fundraising barrier after 62 teams and 160 people took part in the U-Pol-backed three-day event last week. 

Between them they covered more than 21,000 miles in support of the charity that is tackling the current skills gap by promoting the industry to new talent and then helping them find apprenticeship roles. 

Thatcham Research welcomes latest intake 

Thatcham Research has this week welcomed its latest intake of apprentices.  

The latest cohort represent 2Excel Engineering, Apollo Motor Group, Artis Accident Care, DLG Auto Services, FMG Repair Services, Foray Motor Group, Lillywhitegarage, RJM Repair and Paint, Rolls Royce, Smart Answers and Solus Accident Repair Centres. 

Thatcham Research Academy delivers practical and online learning, covering the latest technologies, including ADAS and electric vehicles. 

Thieves set their sights on car parts 

New research has revealed a fresh target for car thieves – car parts. 

According to data from LV= General Insurance, the theft of steering wheels has risen by a staggering 133% since 2017 (average claims cost of £7,000), with demand for airbags, gear levers and dashboard components doubling during the same period. 

Steer Group unveils new flagship site 

Steer Group has cut the ribbon on a new prestige flagship facility in High Wycombe. 

The purpose-built 28,000 sqft site has been designed to repair the world’s leading vehicle brands. 

Following the science 

Copart has set science-based targets to reduce carbon emissions throughout its operations. 

The UK’s leading vehicle salvage and remarking company has joined more than 3,000 other businesses that have committed to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which has provided it with a clearly defined pathway towards reducing emissions in line with the Paris Agreement. 

Rising figures mask deeper concerns 

Car and commercial vehicle manufacturing both rose sharply in August, with car output up 43% on August 2021 and commercial vehicles surging by 92.9%. 

Sargeant’s major marathon fundraising effort 

Dave Sargeant, Chairman of AutoRaise and Gemini Managing Director, is running the London Marathon on Sunday to raise funds for prostate cancer research.  

Apollo backs next-gen talent 

Apollo Motor Group has underscored its commitment to developing future talent this week, with Managing Director Paul Clements attending the Careers and Apprenticeship Show at Fratton Park in Portsmouth recently, promoting the industry to more than 1,300 visitors, while at the same time supporting six apprentices as they began their journey at Thatcham Research Academy. 

This six are Liam Fowler (Apollo Horsham), Aiden Faulkner (Apollo Yeovil), Harley Chambers (Apollo Basingstoke), Ben Tomes (Apollo Swindon), Dominic Motani (Apollo Polegate) and Marcus Stepney (Apollo Cheltenham). 

Wejo links AVs with connected tech 

Wejo has unveiled a new autonomous vehicle prototype that integrates with real-time connected vehicle technology such as the number of cars on the road, pedestrians, cyclists, road barriers and road conditions. 

DLIVEREE has been created to support the further development of autonomous vehicles. 

Founder and CEO Richard Barlow said, “Wejo is not entering the race to develop autonomous vehicles. We are ultimately supporting the creation of the most experienced driver on the road.” 

Redde Northgate reports ‘encouraging’ results 

Redde Northgate has told shareholders that the future looks encouraging with trade remaining strong despite post-Covid challenges and claims and services recovering well. 

Appointments

A1 ADAS Solutions has welcomed Paul Harris to its team. ADAS-qualified, he brings a wealth of main dealer experience with hi having worked at Audi and Jaguar Landrover.

David Dollar has been promoted to Senior Body Repair Claims Specialist, EMEA, Tesla.

ITAS has appointed Mark Thorns-by as new Regional Performance Manager. 

Rebecca Winterhalder has been named Head of Motor Claims, Accidental Damage at Hastings Direct.  

Catch up on exclusive ARC360 content 

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ARC360 Podcast Episode 25: Kelvyn Waugh, Prasco UK 

Feature Interview: Kevern Thompson, Commercial Manager, CAPS 

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