|
|
||
|
|
Sikkens Customers Recognised at Bodyshop Industry Awards 2004. |
Karl Vella Autobody Repairs (Preston) Ltd.
|
|
Kitemark Recognised
The Karl Vella Group is a company who have built their reputation on its high quality of repair. Today with the advent of new manufacturing materials such as aluminium and high strength boron steel, repair methods are changing at a pace that demands constant changes . The Karl Vella Group is committed to investing in new equipment and skills. This it has shown by them becoming the first and to date only Accident Repair Group in the Northwest of England to have been awarded the B.S.I. Kitemark™. Skelmersdale, Preston, Southport and Blackburn are now PAS 125 Structural Steel Kitemark® Approved. This achievement confirms our dedication to Training, and to our investment in new technology and equipment. Modern cars are made from a variety of different steels and materials. Each different material reacts in a different way when heat or other external forces are applied, it is imperative therefore that the correct welding and bonding procedures are following in line with Thatcham or Manufactures repair methods. Failure to adopt the correct repair method could in certain cases seriously affect the vehicles integrity in the way it may perform in the event of another accident. There a plenty of repairers out there who do not have the necessary skills or equipment to repair newer vehicles to the standards required. The Kitemark® signifies to you, the customer that we have the skill levels and the correct equipment to reinstate the vehicle. The Kitemark is recognised by 82% of the adult population as a symbol of quality and above all safety. More and more insurance company’s see the Kitemark® for what it is; a symbol of Quality, and are insisting that their network of Approved Repairers achieve Kitemark status. When choosing a Bodyshop look for the Kitemark® it’s your assurance that the very latest repair techniques will be adopted and that your vehicle will be repaired to an exacting standard. Our Managing Director is Awarded an MBE Karl Vella, Group Managing Director, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. The Honour was given for Karl’s long term involvement with the training and mentoring of young people to represent the UK in World Skills Competitions over the past ten years. During his involvement with UK skills, and in particular Automotive Skills, Karl has been UK Expert for Autobody Repair, on no less that five occasions, coaching and guiding the UK’s young competitor to pit their skills against such nations as Korea, Japan and South Africa, to name but a few. For three competitions Karl was elected as World Chief Expert in Autobody Repair, a role which involved him overseeing the whole of the Autobody Repair Competition, and in 2005 Karl stepped down as World Chief Expert to coach the UK competitor, Andrew Blair of Northern Ireland, who won the Gold Medal for panel repair. Karl said ‘I am delighted to have received this honour not only for my self, but for all those people who have invested their precious time, and often hard earned money, into training the Body Repair Professionals of tomorrow. It also give me pleasure to see the Body Repair Industry in the press for a positive reason, this is a real honour and I am pleased to accept on behalf of the many that have supported me and made it possible for me to give my time to this worth while event’ Karl is due to attend Buckingham Palace toward the end of the year to receive his award from the Queen.
When is Steel Not Just Steel? As more and more manufacturers look to high technology steels to improve vehicle safety and reduce vehicle weight, it is vital that we, as accident repair specialist, equip and train our staff in order that we can repair these vehicles as the manufacturers intended. We at Karl Vella Autobody Repairs, as one of the North West premier accident repair groups, can reassure our customers that all of our Accident Repair facilities are equipped and staffed so as to be able to carryout structural repairs on vehicles constructed using these high technology UHS and Boron alloy steels. It is vital that all sectors of the motoring public are aware that modern vehicle construction requires high tech equipment to repair and such equipment represents a huge investment in not only the plant itself, but in the training of staff to use that equipment. With the new British Standard for vehicle repair (PAS 125) on the horizon, we are looking to make further investment in attaining this standard, and this will provide the public with the confidence they deserve when choosing who repairs their vehicle following an accident.
Karl Vella Wins Bodyshop Training Award The Karl Vella Group has long been recognised as one of the Uk’s leading independent repairers and has an impressive record in bringing young people into the vehicle repair industry and giving them the training they need to build a career. Karl Vella is also involved as the UK expert in vehicle body repair at the world Skill Olympics, which promotes world-class competency standards in the industrial trades. This dedication to investment in training and new staff made it a worthy winner of the bodyshop Training Award at the Bodyshop Industry Awards 2004. The judges were looking for companies which invest in the future of their businesses and maintain repair integrity by pursuing training structures. Frank Harvey, operations director at Karl Vella commented, “People are the life blood of the industry, and businesses live or die by the calibre of their staff. Without a constant flow of a new talent into the industry, supported by the training to give people the chance to fulfil their potential, the bodyshop industry will not have the wherewithal to thrive in the future.”
In addition to a through training programme for all staff, Karl Vella’s latest initiative is an extended work experience programme giving 14 – 16 year olds the chance to spend two days a week in the work place. Karl Vella has taken on six students in total from Ashton Community Science College, Preston in years 10 & 11 to work at its Preston branch. This will lead to an NVQ level 1 and provides a foundation course for pupils to enter the industry as an apprentice. “We are constantly seeking new ways
to attract young people into the body repair industry. It is an exciting
and varied industry with great opportunities and we seek to show people
what they can achieve and provide them with the means to get there,”
added Frank. “It’s fast changing industry and we need our partners to be forward thinking companies who are one step ahead of these changes”, commented Karl Vella. “Sikkens is a key strategic partner for us. Not only are its products first rate, but their range of services and consultancy have helped us keep at the forefront of the bodyshop industry”. “Karl is proving that despite the current industry downturn, with an
innovative approach and investment the future remains bright,” said
Keith Malik, Acoat consultant. “We are delighted to continue being a
partner in his success”.
|
||
