Revive repairers secure industry accreditation

Two smart repair specialists from Revive have become amongst the first in the country to compete the newly launched ATA for cosmetic repair.

The firm, which has its headquarters in Rugby, has a network of more than 90 franchisees across the UK and is a market leader in repairing minor scuffs and scrapes using the ‘smart’ system.

Assessors from the IMI spent two days at Rugby putting technical operations manager Terry Oxley and national training officer Iain Wallis through a series of tests, assessments and examinations and as a result they are now both fully recognised under the new Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme.

Part of the cosmetic repair ATA was based on Revive’s own training programme and the paint module was piloted at Revive’s workshop in Rugby which holds IMI accredited status.

All Revive technicians will be put through the ATA to become the first network of fully accredited smart repairers in the UK.

Oxley said: “At any one time we have more than 100 operatives out there on the road and we plan to put them all through the accreditation scheme.

“The ATA was based on the existing training we give to all of our recruits and now that there is a nationally recognised set of standards and competencies Revive technicians will continue to lead the way in delivering top quality service to customers, setting us apart from competitors in a tough marketplace.

Oxley with the help of Wallis set up the internal accreditation scheme for Revive and both have been instrumental in winning industry recognition.

Wallis explained: “This is something we have been working towards as a company for more than two years. The fact that our workshops in Rugby are nationally recognised means that we are setting the standard across the industry.

“Obviously the length of time it takes to achieve the required standards depends on each individual’s level of experience and expertise.”

He added: “This is an achievement that we are all proud of here at Revive and all the hard work and preparation has paid off for us. It is also good news for our customers because it will give them peace of mind when they come to us – they will know exactly what standard of service they can expect.”

Revive managing director Mark Llewellyn said: “It has felt like a long journey, but we are delighted that the IMI has seen the value of creating an ATA standard for cosmetic and bodywork repairs.
“This means that the professional repairers can differentiate themselves from competitors whose only means of distinction has historically been to cut prices.
“While there is nothing wrong in pricing aggressively, this has sometimes led to practices, techniques and products that are not as long lasting or repairs that are not as durable as they should be – and has at times meant that SMART repairs have been dismissed as a cheap, unprofessional repairs.”