The event was not focussed on just the challenges ahead. A report on the importance of the UK aftermarket by Frost & Sullivan provided some good news for the independent repair sector. The study showed the UK’s aftermarket was the 4th largest in Europe with 64% accounted for by the
independent sector and we are heading to become the 3rd largest in the next 5 years. Of the 42,544 repairers, 35,000 of these are reported to be independent, working on a UK vehicle parc of 30 million cars, which have an average age of 7.8 years. Statistics show that the average hourly rate of an independent workshop stands at £63.74, compared to £92.37 for an authorised dealer. The report concluded that, as cars become more complicated, this presents a real opportunity
for the growth of independent repairers. It recommended that we must embrace the digitalisation of vehicles, continue to lobby for the right to access vehicle data and ensure we have the skills to work on changing technology.
