Fix Auto’s National Conference 2022 – Facing the Future – focused on the realities of today’s evolving business environment, fraught with challenge but also plentiful in opportunity.
Speaking at the first Fix Auto UK conference since 2019, when part of the key focus was on the outcome of Brexit, Ian Pugh, Fix Auto UK Managing Director, highlighted how against an extremely challenging recent history the franchise had continued to go from strength-to-strength.
He pointed to how the central team was now a little over 40 in number; the 120 strong franchise sites across the UK including an additional 20-plus new Franchise Partners since the last Conference; the network’s 150,000 repairs over the past 12 months; and some 6,300 TrustPilot reviews which currently rate the business as ‘excellent’ and revealed the organisation’s goal was to secure 20,000 in two years’ time.
Amongst all the successes, Ian spoke of the jewel in the crown as being the Fix Auto UK apprentice scheme – supported by Sherwin-Williams – and stated: “The average age of a technician across the industry is nearer 50 than it is 30 – we’ve clearly got a problem and is one we have got to address”.
Against this backdrop, as well as a number of other well documented industry wide challenges such as courtesy cars, part delays and rising costs, Ian highlighted how this was giving rise to opportunity and Fix Auto UK was taking the initiative by trialling artificial intelligence, express centres and new partnerships within the network.
“There has never been a more important time to collaborate,” explained Ian.
Ian also further highlighted how, after one repairer within the network identified the possibility of gaining retail grant support as the pandemic took hold, Fix Auto UK reached out to the industry with free offers of help, support and guidance, a process he started while appearing on ARC360’s weekly webinars and one that went onto to amass more than £3m for repairers within the network and outside it.
Ian’s address was followed by several presentations throughout the day exploring and providing insight on how individuals and businesses alike can adapt to change, excel and manage uncertain futures.
