Call Zebra plans to build on success of first accident management seminar

Call Zebra has revealed plans to host a series of regional events following the success of its first accident management seminar. ‘Smarter Accident Management’, which coincided with Call Zebra’s first anniversary celebrations, attracted over 70 professionals from across the automotive industry.

Call Zebra has revealed plans to host a series of regional events following the success of its first accident management seminar.

‘Smarter Accident Management’, which coincided with Call Zebra’s first anniversary celebrations, attracted over 70 professionals from across the automotive industry.

A staggering nine bodyshops applied to join Call Zebra’s U&I repairer network in the week following the event in Bracknell, Berkshire, on July 1.

The seminar, was hosted by TV motoring personality Mike Brewer, the face of Call Zebra, and covered a whole host of issues including the future of credit hire, implementing PAS 125, how to win more work and the importance of marketing your company’s services.

Guest speakers included Britannia Accident Assist’s managing director Kyle Harris, Nash GB Ltd’s auditor and training manager Donna Deakin, and Iris Coatings’ business development manager Ian Douglas.

Darren Gilling, managing director of Call Zebra, gave an overview of the firm’s achievements over the past year and shared some of the plans for the year ahead, including Call Zebra’s green accident management strategy.

Call Zebra has already helped more than 60 independent repairers become fully-fledged 24/7 national operations. A survey carried out among Call Zebra repairers on the day of the seminar revealed 83% rated the overall Call Zebra concept as ‘excellent’ and the remaining 17% scored ‘good’.

Plans are now underway to host a series of smaller regional seminars later in the year for Call Zebra partners and all those who share Call Zebra’s passion to improve and strengthen the accident management industry.

Darren Gilling, managing director of Call Zebra, said: “Every week more independent bodyshops are becoming 24/7 national operations and the motoring public are exercising more choice about where their vehicle is repaired after an accident. This seminar has highlighted the strength of feeling there is to improve the accident repair industry and the commitment shown by our repairer network, and others like them, to deliver the very best service they can for their clients. I‘m extremely proud of the achievements of Call Zebra’s partners over the past 12 months and I believe we will see significant positive changes within the industry during the next 12 months.”

Guest speaker Donna Deakin, of Nash GB, who led two presentations on the subject of PAS 125, added: “We were delighted to be able to attend the Call Zebra seminar. We hope all who attended left with a better understanding, feeling more at ease about the PAS 125 process. PAS 125 doesn’t have to entail enormous amounts of hard work, but by using smart and lean practices with research, and communication clever implementation will ensure you reach and maintain the standard.”

Ian Douglas, of Iris Coatings said: "It was extremely pleasing to see a number of professional repairers working to secure their own futures by attracting retail work alongside their insurance and motor manufacturer approvals. We recognise that as a part of the supply chain IRIS Coatings and our business partners have a vested interest in the success of the UK repair market. IRIS Coatings distributors will continue to invest in both independent repairers and networks creating mutually beneficial & sustainable business models."

Kyle Harris of Britannia Accident Assist added: “I think there was a realization from all parties that repairers need to work with other sectors of the repair chain, such as accident management companies, paint suppliers, and credit hire providers to enable them not just to survive, but to thrive in the future. The delegates’ eagerness to discuss openly, industry issues of specific interest and concern, highlights the trust they have in the Call Zebra product. This approach can only gain greater momentum and success.”