There are a number of issues at the forefront of the minds of VBRA members. As an organisation we have supported members who have decided against the adoption of PAS125 and we've supported those who have decided to travel that route. To some it is an excellent business discipline which ultimately benefits their business and to some it is an imposition they deplore. The sector is certainly having to overtly demonstrate improved professionalism. Kitemark runs a risk of becoming self perpetuating with all the costs it brings based mainly on fear of losing contracts — a bit like signing a blank cheque — business control nestles ever more firmly in the hands of others! Given our efforts and general publicity few repairers must be unaware of modern materials such as Boron, UHSS and the like. Joining technologies are becoming more complex; the impact of modern adhesive technology is only just beginning. A key future issue will be an ability to properly assess the extent of damage through new investigative equipment to virtually visualise what they cannot actually see. More cost! Invest in upskilling Whatever the size and complexion of the future repair market there will be an increased need to invest in upskilling, new equipment, changed techniques and increasing legislative burdens. The pace of change is accelerating. Key here is the need to make reasonable returns on investment to sustain regular modernisation. Many independents are finding increasingly entrepreneurial ways to weather short and medium term storms. It always has been challenging though — it's all a matter of degree. The absolute essential for the repair market is availability of correct repair methods. BER does not directly address this but the Right To Repair Campaign does. Ultimately it's in the interest of every motor manufacturer to make their vehicles repairable and it is the translation of this basic position into the reality of information availability that is imperative. VBRA through its membership of AIRC supports the R2RC Realignment of thinking Finally, the direction of work is an issue for many. Those who receive directed work and are happy with it are vulnerable to changes in insurer thinking unless they carefully control exposure to any one provider — as evidenced by the numbers of repairers now devoid of large tranches of their work through a realignment of thinking by some leading insurers. Those who don't receive directed work may consider themselves fortunate but are very concerned at the blatant ignorance of customers' rights to choose their own repairers by insurers who's staff act as if they'll be penalised for allowing a repair to go outside the approved networks. We are currently working with some of our European counterparts with the EC competition authorities on this matter — but being Europe the likelihood of a quick fix is remote. l Malcolm Tagg is the director general of the VBRA