KITEMARK GETS OFF TO FLYING START

TV journalist and broadcaster, Quentin Wilson, prasied the Kitemark scheme at the launch

It’s official. The Thatcham BSI Kitemark has been launched, major insurers are backing it and a consumer advertising campaign is underway. Heather Grant was at the launch and canvassed a cross-section of industry personalities for their different views.



The first three bodyshops to achieve the Thatcham BSI Kitemark were announced at the recent launch of the scheme. East Bilney Coachworks, AJC Fix Auto Dagenham, and RBS UK Assistance ARC in Heywood, have successfully completed the rigorous audit and are the first to be able to display the Kitemark, which is a recognised symbol of quality to 82% of consumers.

Speaking at the launch, Alastair Trivett, Global Managing Director, BSI Product Services said that the Thatcham BSI Kitemark brings with it a number of crucial benefits. ‘The new Kitemark will undoubtedly save lives,’ said Alastair. ‘It will help to ensure the safe repair of vehicles and give the bodyshops a badge of recognition that the public can be confident in.

‘We also know from our experience in a variety of industries, that businesses that have gone through the programme to obtain the Kitemark benefit not only from the confidence it inspires in customers – and potential customers – but also from the high levels of service and best business practices that come with obtaining it.’

The scheme is intended to help ensure that the UK’s bodyshop industry has a recognised standard to aim for and maintain.

The Master of Ceremonies at the launch was motoring TV journalist and broadcaster Quentin Willson, who praised the scheme. In his opening address, he said, ‘The Thatcham BSI Kitemark is a very important initiative and one which the industry itself has brought about. It should benefit the motoring public in terms of quality, confidence and safety – and that’s something I’ve long campaigned for.’

Central to the Kitemark is the recently announced technical specification for the crash repair industry – PAS 125. Accreditation will ensure compliance to the required competency levels on an ongoing basis.

Speaking at the conference, Jason Moseley, Thatcham’s Chief Operating Officer, said, ‘Cars are so much more sophisticated in the 21st century. There are no less than 10 different disciplines involved with repair. We at Thatcham, along with organisations such as Euro NCAP are always pushing for safety improvements. This scheme will ensure that the bodyshop repair industry drives ahead of the changes.’

The insurance industry is also embracing the scheme. Pierre Lefevre, Chairman of the Thatcham Board and CEO of Groupama, hailed the Kitemark scheme as a major contribution to road safety. ‘Insurance is all about reducing risk,’ said Pierre. ‘This scheme does just that. It will benefit all sides of the crash repair process and thus, ultimately, motorists, their passengers and pedestrians too.’

At the heart of this new standard are five key elements. These are:
 Manpower – personnel are fully trained and maintain the required competencies.
 Method – the bodyshop has demonstrable use of recognised crash repair methods.
 Machine – repairers have the correct equipment for the job, which is properly calibrated and employed.
 Material – repairers use the correct parts and components.
 Management – process management is used to ensure that the processes are in place to deliver the required standards.

‘Repairing modern, high technology cars has never been more challenging,’ said Thatcham’s Chief Executive, Peter Roberts. ‘It’s not only premium brands but volume vehicles too, as we saw today. Without detailed knowledge and training it is impossible to make a safe repair. The new Kitemark scheme will give insurers and consumers confidence in repairers who display this symbol.’
What the industry says
According to the MVRA, the Thatcham BSI Kitemark will become the single most important accreditation for vehicle repairers. ‘It has been developed by industry stakeholders, including insurers and sets clear industry wide standards covering areas such as service, equipment and training,’ said MVRA’s Chief Executive, Mike Monaghan. ‘MVRA has been closely involved in the development of the new Thatcham BSI Kitemark and will be offering a package of support services to assist repairers in their preparations for registration and accreditation.'

Insurer group esure has written to its approved network giving them two months to apply for the Kitemark, and will help repairers to achieve the accreditation. 'We support the Kitemark scheme wholeheartedly as it will raise standards in the industry and give consumers confidence that the repairs have been done properly,' said John Pritchard, esure's National Services Technical Manager. 'It’s good for repairers because they will gain efficiencies, but it will take effort. I don’t think there’s another initiative that has had such wide cross-industry support.’

Phil Gledhill, Claims Technical Manager, Norwich Union has been heavily involved in the evolution of the initial PAS 125 and now the Kitemark in his role as Chairman of the ETS (Engineer’s Technical Sub-Committee). ‘Insurers have a huge responsibility to direct and deliver a safe repair for their policyholders, when approved repairers are used,’ said Phil. ‘The Kitemark will drive efficiency of process for repairers but equally it will mean a single audit for insurers, so instead of insurers carrying out multiple audits, there will be a single audit, the Thatcham BSI Kitemark audit.’

‘Our view is that it couldn’t have come at a better time,’ said Gary Steele, from consultancy Muradi. ‘The Kitemark scheme will give structure to a business. It very much aligns itself to what we do to improve business. By looking at processes you can reduce cost and improve productivity because you are paying attention to details that matter. The benefits of the scheme far outweigh the costs.’

Repairers themselves have been quick to recognise the value of the Thatcham BSI Kitemark as Mark Baldwin, Partner at Norfolk-based East Bilney Coachworks confirms. ‘We are 100% behind the introduction of the Kitemark. As a crash repairer, it will enable us to assure our customers and the insurers we work with that the vehicles going through our bodyshop have been repaired using safe and demonstrable quality procedures.’

AJC’s Chris Oliver believes that repairers need to know their limitations and turn away work if it is outside their capabilities in order to make sure that it is directed into shops with the right equipment, knowledge and training. He is convinced that the standard will not only benefit the industry as a whole, but individual bodyshops because it will improve business. ‘You’d have to be mad or on drugs not to go for this new Kitemark standard,’ said Chris.

Neil Kirk, MD of northwest-based repair group Howard Basford,explained why he supports the Kitemark. ‘This initiative is just what the professional bodyshop operators, who are committed to safety and are investing heavily in equipment and people, have been calling for. The standard will give confidence and reassurance to all who place work with us. Additionally, it will set the framework for the ongoing development of quality standards that will need to evolve and adapt to the challenges of new vehicle manufacturing technologies.’