Welcome to our brand-new blog series – Bodyshop Spotlight – where we’ll be exploring our industry-leading bodyshops across the UK, speaking with the managers of the different sites, getting insight on the daily operations, seeing what the bodyshop does differently to stand out, and showcasing what working in an Activate Accident Repair bodyshop is truly like.
For our first Bodyshop Spotlight, we caught up with Darren Norman, Bodyshop Manager at Activate Accident Repair Nottingham. Darren spoke to us about his experience opening the site, the certificates and equipment held by the bodyshop, and how working at Activate Accident Repair has compared to other places he has worked.
How was the experience of opening the Nottingham Site?
“It was a rather unique experience! I’ve spent the majority of my professional career working in bodyshops, so stepping into a project like this, opening a whole new site – it was an entirely new challenge for me. I joined the business in August, and I had the challenge of ensuring that the Nottingham site would be ready to open just two months later in October.
When I first walked into the building it was completely bare; there was no equipment, no team, just four empty walls. But I could see the potential. In a week, I had my first challenge: recruiting over 30 people to join the team, ranging from Bodyshop Technicians to Drivers to Customer Service Advisors.
It was something that I did thoroughly enjoy. It was interesting to see the project progress and come to life, even though it was difficult at times. Seeing the progress to where the site is now and the entire journey that I embarked on; I feel incredibly proud knowing that I played a key role in helping the vision come to fruition.
It wasn’t just about getting the doors open for me – I wanted to make sure we created something that works, delivers quality and brings people together as a team.”
What makes the Nottingham bodyshop an industry-leading site?
“Honestly, I think it’s the way that we have built the site from day one, the people here are a testament to dedication.
Everyone who works here now has been a part of the journey since the beginning, so there’s a real sense of ownership and pride because we built this together. I think that’s helped with the morale – the team communicated incredibly well and they’re always on hand to support one another, and the standard of the work they aim to achieve is just amazing.
I would also mention how the site is set up to run at a very high standard. We ensure we use Onyx BMS to its full potential as this is a key element in managing every part of the repair journey in a really clever and consistent way. Not to mention that the systems and processes we have in place really do work – that really helps give the team the structure and confidence to perform at their best.”
Can you tell us more about what makes the Nottingham site so unique?
“I will say that I’m very proud of how environmentally conscious we are. From the outset it’s been a priority to make sure we are committed to sustainability – and that’s reflected in the equipment and processes that we have in place, such as us being completely paperless!
We have some fantastic state-of-the-art green renewable spray booths, they’re highly energy efficient and help reduce emissions during the spraying process. There’s also a thinner recycler that we use to reduce the constant disposal and replacement of these materials. We’ve made the investment in equipment such as a can crusher that safely compact paint tins and aerosol cans, and a baler which compresses cardboard and plastics for recycling. It really does make a big difference and show how we manage our environmental impact.”
What certifications does the Nottingham bodyshop have?
“We recently passed our BSI Kitemark inspection in May. The feedback we received was excellent – knowing that we are running to the incredible standard of the BSI Kitemark is great.
The BSI Kitemark is something that recognises quality and safety within the industry; it means that our site meets the strict criteria for repair methods, staff competence, quality control and customer satisfaction. Achieving this prestigious certification so early in the life of the bodyshop shows how committed everyone here is to making sure that we do things right for the customer and their insurer.
In terms of the equipment, we’re fully kitted out with modern, energy-efficient technology that supports both high-quality repairs and sustainability. Everything has been specially selected to help the team work efficiently and consistently, whilst delivering the best possible results for our customers and clients.”
What has it been like working for Activate Accident Repair and how does it differ from other places that you have worked?
“I have had an overwhelmingly positive experience in my time working here. Activate Accident Repair and Activate Group Limited is a really supportive company; they truly care about the team members and that makes a huge impact.
Not too long ago I had to take care of some of my own health concerns, and the support I received was outstanding, I had the support of everyone around me, including Hannah Wilcox, the CEO of Activate Group, and that’s not something that I’ve had anywhere else. It was incredibly heartwarming.
Another thing that stands out to me is how the company values and recognises good work. There’s a real effort to make sure people know they are and feel appreciated, whether that be through development opportunities or the acknowledgement people receive when they have completed an incredible piece of work.”
John Lees from Nottingham won the ‘Bad Day Better’ award at our recent annual awards. How do you think this bodyshop reflects this value?
“Something that we will always keep in mind is that an accident isn’t just about the damage – it’s often quite a stressful, disruptive experience for the person involved.
Here in Nottingham, we make sure we treat everyone’s car as if it were our own. We share a belief here that to really ‘make someone’s bad day better’, you have to approach the situation with empathy, care and respect. We always put ourselves in their shoes and think: ‘how would I want to be treated if this was me?’
This mentality runs throughout the whole team – it’s not just about fixing the vehicle, we try our hardest to give people the reassurance and confidence that we are going provide a smooth experience during a difficult period of time, so seeing John win that award was brilliant. It reflects every single one of us and the approach that we bring to work on a daily basis.”
Thank you to Darren for chatting with us about your experience as Bodyshop Manager at Activate Accident Repair Nottingham.
Leave a Reply