Activate Accident Repair has opened a new flagship body shop in Warrington; the latest milestone in its £15m expansion plan announced last year.

The new body shop is Activate’s fourth and largest repair centre to date

Opened in May, the new body shop is the firm’s fourth and largest repair centre to date. It measures 24,000ft2 and has the capacity to repair up to 18 vehicles a day, including EVs and hybrid vehicles. It’s also able to repair structural composite materials and all safety features.

The accident repair business is part of the Activate Group, which also includes Motor Repair Network, Sopp+Sopp and Activate Parts. The group was founded in 2015 and specialises in accident management services, working with major corporate fleets and insurers.

While the business has an approved network of 200 repairers, it launched its inhouse Activate Accident Repair business in 2019 as part of a strategic growth plan to meet demand for high-quality repair centres in historically underserved urban areas.

Victoria Turner, CEO of Activate Accident Repair said: “We plan to open 15 new repair centres across the UK over the next 12 months, and have a thorough process in place to ensure that each site meets our exceptionally high operating standards.

“For me it’s important that, as well as investing in the best technology, we also invest in our people, with great on-site facilities, training and support. We’ve gradually built up the volume of vehicle repairs at Warrington to allow time for the new team to complete a full induction programme focused on service, efficiency and safety.”