AW Repair Group is delighted its 18 month old Nottingham site has reached the finals of Medium Bodyshop of the Year.

In addition Lincolnshire HQ panel technician Terry McNamara is finalist in the skill awards.

“To be finalists in two categories is fantastic,” said Group Operations Manager James Dunn. “Terry is highly skilled and we are so happy for him to reach the finals after an on-line exam and two days testing at the Thatcham Research Centre. To be selected as one of the top four panel technicians in the country is a huge achievement whatever happens on the night.”

Added Ben Hissitt, manager of the Nottingham site: “The team here are absolutely thrilled. From day one everyone gelled together with one mindset and we smashed through all our targets in the first three months. We are very proud of reaching the final three in the country and continually strive to provide an outstanding performance in all areas of the business.”

The winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony next month (September) and follows AW Repair Group’s recent acknowledgement by London Stock Exchange as one of 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain.

AW Repair Group is honoured to have received the LV= Insurance Community Award in recognition of work with charitable organisations throughout the past year.

From painting village bicycles yellow, to opening up collection points for fire victims and helping the homeless, the past year has seen AW’s helping hand spread up and down the country.

Michael Golding, Network Manager of the national insurance company LV= commented: “It’s great to see AW get the recognition for this award and all the team should be very proud.”

Added Andrew Walsh, Managing Director, AW Repair Group: “Winning the LV= Community award was a great boost for the team. As a company we interact as much as possible with our local communities and recognition from a prestigious insurer as LV= is the icing on the cake for us!”

The award noted the various charitable events throughout the year including the sponsorship of lycra shirts for 24 cyclists collectively clocking up nearly 3,000 miles to raise money for sick children in memory of toddler Naomi Fardell. Cycling from Great Ormond Street, London, to Grantham, Lincolnshire, The Naomi Trust cyclists’ sponsorship benefited Grantham Hospital Children’s Ward, Glenfield Intensive Care Unit and Great Ormond Street – all hospitals which helped Naomi during her short life.

From amateur cyclists to the Tour of Britain in August which, for the first time, passed through Nottinghamshire. The county’s villages en route were keen to join in with Edingley hitting the headlines as they decorated the streets with yellow bikes – painted by AW Repair Group’s Newark, Nottinghamshire site.

The award judges were also moved by AW Repair Group joining those across the country in solidarity with the victims of the tragic Grenfell Tower disaster. Being in the Midlands and away from the focal point of London, staff and members of the community felt helpless until AW Repair Group decided to open the five sites across the East Midlands as drop-off points for donations of soft furnishings.

The branches were inundated with hundreds of donations of bedding and curtains and although it soon became apparent that the overwhelming support in London meant that the donations were being turned away the company continued to accept while looking for another charity in need.

As the year end approached and with the thought of homeless spending Christmas on the streets AW Repair Group chose Christian homelessness charity The Nomad Trust as the worthy beneficiary.

Hundreds of bags, boxes and crates were loaded into the Nissan Leaf electric courtesy cars (saving the world too!) and delivered to the trust where volunteers were overwhelmed by the generosity. The donations provided immediate resource for the homeless and items to sell in the charity’s shops.

These events have been held alongside sponsoring the AutoRaise Summer Ball, RoundTable OktoberFest and branches partaking in the annual Children In Need activities and Save The Children’s Christmas Jumper Day.

Added Jade Johnson, AW Repair Group, Marketing & Communications: “We believe our community spirit supports those in need and unites our personnel as well as supporting our company ethos that our customers should be able to know and trust us even before becoming a customer.”

Due to the adverse weather, AW were unable to attend the LV= Claims Awards in Bournemouth but are looking forward to taking receipt of the award in due course.

AW Repair Group’s first dedicated Fast Finish Centre is now in full swing and is the latest expansion project for the growing group.

Equipped and branded towards the end of last year, AW Fast Finish Centres (Denaby Main) utilises multi skilled technicians, smart techniques and tooling to achieve a one to two day turnround for small to medium repairs.

AW’s insurer partners have supported the concept and seen the benefit of vehicles being centrally triaged and proceeded through a separate, faster process, further reducing the overall cycle time and key to key, while still closely supported by the group’s main sites when necessary.

Andrew Walsh, Managing Director commented: “An opportunity arose for AW to open an alternative to the main stream Accident Repair Centres, and we have been encouraged by the interest and enthusiasm from our work provider partners and would like to thank them for their support in backing this project. Our strategy for the future includes opening more Fast Finish Centres to assist our main sites and future growth.”

Repairs are triaged by AW’s Central First Response team at the outset, with both Denaby Main and Markham Vale sites feeding further jobs once assessed. An average 13hr job, none welded panels and minimum replacement parts ensures the Fast Finish team are able to meet and exceed targets, currently repairing 17 vehicles on average per week.

The 5,000sq ft site is located at Denaby Main, South Yorkshire, perfectly located for existing customers already served in the Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Chesterfield and Sheffield areas. The new centre supports the main bodyshop at Denaby Main and the Markham Vale site being 20 miles away. The LED-lit open reception encompasses the company’s striking blue and orange corporate branding.

After opening their doors as a collection point for donations following the devastating Grenfell Tower tragedy, AW Repair Group have this week transported three vehicle loads to The Nomad Trust.

The overwhelming national support for Grenfell survivors meant that AW’s collections could be diverted to another needy charity.

“We had a fantastic response from the communities local to our 5 sites with donations of curtains & bedding,” said Jade Johnson, AW Repair Group Business Development & Marketing.

“But as Grenfell was overcome with donations we waited for further instructions from charities on the ground trying to deal with the massive influx and then had to decide what to do when donations were being turned away.”

AW Repair Group had limited donations to soft furnishings so that in the event of not being required for Grenfell could be sold by weight to material recyclers.

“But we since approached several other charities and The Nomad Trust, which provides welfare services for the homeless, will now receive the items in time to help those in need this Christmastime.”

The Nomad Trust is a Christian based registered charity initially Launched in 1984 as a day centre offering food and basic shelter. With the help of national lottery funding it now offers 21 beds a night and has supported more than 5000 people with basic necessities and companionship. 

Seven young apprentices joining AW Repair Group’s Training & Apprenticeship Academy this month recently enjoyed a welcome & introduction day.

Along with their supportive parents, the group of trainee technicians visited the group’s newest site in Beeston, Nottingham, to get to know each other, a tour of the premises and equipment and an introductory presentation & slideshow by Managing Director Andrew Walsh.

Andrew explained the company history, ethos, employee and customer care, expected work ethic and  potential career paths.

Encouraging dads led the way on the workshop tour, eagle-eyed at the panel repair demonstration and mums were first in line at the mixing room surprised to learn almost all the car colours in the world could be mixed with the paint in that room!

After an enjoyable morning tour, talking to staff and management the day continued with a buffet lunch and then a visit to EMTEC technical training College Nottingham, where the apprentices looked around the workshop space and classrooms where they will be training together on block courses in the months ahead.