Thatcham BSI Kitemark Celebrates First Year Milestone

The Kitemark scheme – which sets out standards for the crash repair process, including the methods and materials used by competent technicians – is one year old, and the Thatcham BSI Kitemark Vehicle Body Repair team has marked the scheme’s first birthday by hosting a small party at the Thatcham head office in Berkshire. Support for the Kitemark scheme since its introduction in February 2007, the team reports, has been impressive across the entire UK crash repair industry.

Attainment of the Kitemark certificate is intended to ensure motorists that the standard of collision repairs they receive from a Kitemark-certified bodyshop will restore their vehicle to its pre-accident condition. The Kitemark certificate is the only scheme in the UK, says the team, to recognise and address the complexities of modern vehicle manufacture and repair.

“The measurable systems and processes that the Kitemark certificate requires focuses the bodyshop to do a quality job,” commented Quentin Willson, spokesperson for BSI. “Therefore the standards rise across the board; the consumer has confidence in the service that the bodyshop delivers and the industry gets the ‘best practice’ performance levels it’s seeking.”

At the time of the scheme’s first birthday, 60 crash repair specialists have received the Kitemark certificate, with another 246 businesses going through the application stage. The strong interest in the scheme is illustrated by the fact that the UK’s largest automotive insurers have agreed that their approved collision repairers will embrace the scheme.

Steve Hamon, general manager – Kitemark Services, said; “With the decision made by insurers that they require their approved repairers to achieve Kitemark, the high standards are set to become the ‘norm’ for the crash repair industry. This decision supported by repairers, will ensure the UK motorist receives safe, quality repairs.”

Jason Moseley, Thatcham’s Chief Operating Officer, added; “2007 was a great foundation year for the Kitemark, in 2008 we will see the scheme coming of age with all major insurers backing Kitemark as the badge of quality repairs for their customers. At Thatcham we are also witnessing a huge enthusiasm from repairers who are embracing the challenges ahead by ensuring their bodyshops are staffed by ATA accredited technicians using the appropriate repair method.”