The Assessor Mag Autumn 2024 Web - Flipbook - Page 12
JOURNAL
VDA OF THE YEAR
AMBITIOUS
GROWTH, A VDA
TRAINEE SCHEME
AND VDA OF
THE YEAR
AWARD FOR
AVIVA-OWNED
SOLUS
Purpose-built at more than 40,000 sq ft,
Solus Dunstable will be the group's biggest site.
Dunstable will be staffed by employees who have
transferred from former sites in Hitchin and Luton.
At this year’s ABP British Bodyshop Awards (BBA), Solus was named joint winner of
Thatcham Research’s Apprentice Employer of the Year. In addition to investing in its
future workforce, the group has also been growing its network with three new sites
recently opened, a move for Solus Luton to a new centre in Dunstable, and Solus
Warrington’s experienced Motor Assessor, Mel Johnston, was named Bodyshop Thatcham
VDA of the Year – an Award powered by IAEA.
olus is the nationwide
network of vehicle
damage repair centres
wholly owned by
leading insurer, Aviva,
and manages all motor collision claims
once reported to the insurer. The group
boasts a UK network of 24 vehicle
damage repair centres, which are
supported by an approved nationwide
network of repairers managed by
strategic partners, Vizion, and more
than 50 motor engineers who support
customers when using their own
repairer.
in Luton to a new centre in Dunstable
and, at over 40,000 sq ft, is now the
group’s biggest.
Solus 昀椀rst opened for business at
Park Royal in north London in 1997,
repairing cars exclusively for customers
of the then Norwich Union. In the years
that have followed, it has grown to
include repair centres across the UK,
some of which operate 24/7 and Aviva
is investing to grow its repair capacity
in the UK through Solus.
Clare added: “And of course, this
move also allows us to continue
to deliver great outcomes for our
customers, helping them to get back
S
Chief Operating Of昀椀cer, Clare Davies,
explained how this Bedfordshire
development is a positive step forward
for the company. “For our business to
continue to grow into the future, it is
important our vehicle repair centres are
more forensic in design to deal with
the ever-changing vehicle technology.
They also incorporate features such as
solar panels and rainwater harvesting
and provide more modern facilities for
our employees and customers.”
behind the wheel as quickly and safely
as possible.”
As a company, Solus is also working
with suppliers to test new products,
equipment and methods, and
partnering with industry experts
to tackle some of the issues and
challenges facing the wider sector.
“While we’re growing and investing in
new sites, we are still investing in our
existing property portfolio as well,”
explained Simon Smith, Managing
Director. He added that the next
few years for the industry will be an
interesting time, with the emergence
of new vehicle manufacturers entering
the market and a potential growth in
electric vehicles.
Three new Solus sites opened in as
many months: Shef昀椀eld (22,000 sq ft),
Sunderland (21,500 sq ft) and Exeter
(20,000 sq ft) – creating more than 90
new job roles.
Solus also moved from its existing site
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THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL | AUTUMN 2024 | www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor
