The training, paperwork, repair criteria, health and safety measures and expense of PAS 125 test any bodyshop. To satisfy all of these demands, the total cost to achieve the standard can soar to over £50,000 once extra equipment is acquired. However, this was the total amount that PCR invested to achieve the standard.

The approved bodyshop (RBS, VAG Group, Fiat, Alfa and Mazda to name a few) now stands on a 30,000 sq ft site. Across the road, the old building that was fully operational three months ago has new owners, after PCR shut it down on a Friday evening and opened the following Monday morning at its new premises. In order to achieve this, a great deal of planning from Managing Director Tony Barnett was needed.

‘The landlord gave us six weeks rent-free to allow us to move, so we had to do it quickly,’ said Tony. ‘I planned everything and arranged the movement of the new equipment, ramps and spraybooths. But the staff really helped out, working long hours, seven days a week. As a result, downtime was minimised and we avoided paying rent on two buildings at the same time.’

PCR began in 1982 and grew to a modest 8,000 sq ft. In 2004, Tony bought PCR and quickly expanded again to 20,000 sq ft, all in the midst of a recession. So how is it that the economy has seemingly had no effect on PCR?

‘Every bodyshop has got to move on to survive,’ said Tony. ‘I think if you stand still or say ‘I can’t do it’ then you will get caught up in the decline and will fail. Our commitment and success is shown by taking all the costs in a particularly difficult period.’

Like many bodyshops, PCR has achieved local recognition by becoming a focal point of the town and, having been established for 27 years, PCR is now part of Northampton furniture and has not had to market itself as a result. PCR’s vehicle manufacturer approvals, word of mouth and reputation ensures that the workshop doors are always revolving. However, as any businessperson would say, there is always more revenue to be had.

Redeveloped
‘Our website is currently being redeveloped and we’re aiming to expand our customer base by marketing our services in local newspapers,’ said Tony. ‘As well as this, if you’ve got something to shout about – such as a flawless PAS 125 audit – then you should say so, because we put a lot of hard work in to achieve this standard.’

Slowly but surely, many insurers are beginning to mandate PAS 125 for their networks. As well as this, the total number of bodyshops applying and achieving the standard is increasing all the time. The burning question is when will the amount of bodyshops applying stop and what will happen to ones that are without PAS 125?

‘You’re only going to see bodyshops that take on PAS 125 survive,’ predicted Tony. ‘If you’re a proper bodyshop you should go for PAS 125 because the industry needs regulation. It will filter out the bodyshops who are not willing to follow the correct repair methods. When insurers mandate it, then there will be a huge impact on the industry.’

Persuaded
However, Tony admits that he, like many others, sat on the fence when deciding whether to go for PAS 125 or not, but decided to as more insurers began to mandate the standard for their repair networks. For example, RBS is trying to push its Tier 1 repairers through the Kitemark and, once that happens, the general public will become more aware of what the industry stands for, believes Tony.

‘PAS 125 is the answer,’ he said. ‘As long as you follow the processes everything will go through smoother, if you try to buck the process it becomes a mess.’

Upturn
If PAS 125 is mandated throughout the industry, what, as a whole, should the industry aim to achieve and what happens to PCR? Tony says that maintaining PAS 125 will be crucial, and that the industry should see an upturn within the next decade, which means more room for expansion.

‘I have thought about buying another bodyshop within the next two years,’ said Tony. ‘But we’ll see. I’ve definitely got my hands full at the moment.’