The_Assessor_Summer 2026 Web - Flipbook - Page 12
JOURNAL
VRA INTERVIEW
Andy Latham (left) and (above) is set to implement positive change for the association.
NEW VRA
CHAIRMAN
FOCUSED ON CHANGE
Since becoming Chairman of the Vehicle Recyclers Association (VRA) last December,
Andy Latham has set his sights on change. In this exclusive interview, he reveals his
plans – and what’s next for the rapidly evolving salvage industry.
How do you see the VRA
developing?
What I want is for the VRA to become
the voice of the vehicle dismantling
and recycling industry in the UK, and
that means quite a bit of change
in terms of our focus and how we
operate.
I’ve put forward four pillars that
we need to focus on. The 昀椀rst is
membership – creating a simpli昀椀ed
and accessible structure so we attract
a broader range of businesses and
encourage participation from across
the sector, regardless of size or scale.
Expanding membership is about far
more than increasing numbers; it is
about building a vibrant, engaged, and
connected community.
Certi昀椀cation is the second pillar,
focusing on certi昀椀ed parts for
vehicle dismantlers and recyclers.
We want to support the industry
and the changes taking place so
that more recycled parts are used
within vehicle repair. The third
pillar is compliance, encompassing
regulatory and legislative requirements,
engagement with local authorities and
environmental agencies, and all related
obligations.
The fourth is commercial activities
– how and where we can actively
support insurance or training
programmes that help advance the
industry while also generating a return
for the VRA.
These are the four pillars, and we
are starting to implement structural
changes within the association. I
am supported by a highly engaged
committee that not only endorses
these changes but also provides
constructive challenge, which I consider
essential. While I may generate strong
initial ideas, they are signi昀椀cantly
enhanced through collective scrutiny
– re昀椀ned, debated, rigorously
assessed, and improved – ultimately
resulting in far higher-quality outcomes.
Who are your members?
We have everything from large
organisations like SYNETIQ, Charles
Trent, The Green Parts Specialists, and
Silverlake Automotive Recycling, to
small operators with two employees
processing three vehicles a week, and
everyone in between.
We also have members who are not
vehicle dismantlers, such as Lithium
Battery Recycling and Howden, which
provides insurance. These companies
support the industry but don’t actually
handle vehicles.
What is your background?
I started out as an apprentice on the
tools, rising through to management,
where I was running service parts and
a bodyshop for a franchised dealer.
I was headhunted by Norwich Union
(now Aviva) and spent 10 years
there as a Vehicle Damage Assessor,
followed by 13 years as Compliance
[continued on page 14]
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THE ASSESSORS JOURNAL | SUMMER 2026 | www.iaea-online.org/news/the-assessor
