The first steps have been taken to ensure the RMI’s National Association of Bodyshops and the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association promote the crash repair sector with a unified voice.

The NAB executive committee, and the body repair arm of the Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association (VBRA) National Repairers Council, met last week to scope out their future plans for working together.

The meeting, which was chaired by Tony Lowe, RMI board director, agreed the structure of a working group which would provide terms of reference - including a business plan and policies for both trade associations. 

Lowe said: “Both NAB and the VBRA deal with similar issues and concerns, and there is an overwhelming desire to establish a progressive and effective relationship that represents all bodyshops.”

Frank Harvey, head of NAB said, “Both associations have been working closely since the beginning of the year, and this meeting was the next step in order to plan our strategy in continuing to relay a unified voice in the bodyshop industry.”

Malcolm Tagg, VBRA director general, said: “VBRA and NAB currently have distinct approaches to services, benefits and methods of delivery.  All these will be reviewed to provide best practice and value to benefit members.”