Royal & Sun Alliance is understood to be expanding its insurer-owned network of bodyshops.

The company has owned four sites in Luton, Willenhall, Glasgow and Leeds, for several years. They operate under the brand Quality Repair Centres.

Industry sources told AM that it has recruited bodyshop consultant Ken Lane, former head of Nationwide Crash Repair Centres, to assess prospective acquisition targets. He is looking for bodyshops of 12,000 to 25,000sq ft with an established workforce which RSA could take over.

One industry source said: “RSA originally wanted to expand its Quality Repair Centre network a few years ago, the plan then was for 20 around the country.

“Then it halted that plan after it committed itself to contracting Nationwide as dedicated repair centres, but Nationwide has since got into bed with Norwich Union, Zurich and AXA in a big way, so I wouldn’t be surprised if RSA is aiming to secure its repair capacity through buying bodyshops.”

Lane told AM: “I want to buy some bodyshops” but declined to confirm who he is acting for.