Ford’s network of 153 approved repair centres have signed up to become BSI Kitemark certified by the end of 2010.

The carmaker said more than 40 per cent of the network have already gained the BSI PAS 125 standard and Kitemark licence and “almost all” of the remaining centres will follow.

Vital standard
“We believe that it’s a vital standard to be achieved, a symbol of a quality product which brings peace of mind for the customer,” said Nick Halliday, Ford’s manager of collision repair marketing.

“Achieving the BSI PAS 125 Kitemark will mean that our repair centres can additionally offer a certified standard for non-Ford vehicles, which is something that leading insurers are increasingly insisting upon.”

The PAS 125 Kitemark is operated by the independent standards and certification organisation BSI, and is an industry-agreed technical specification covering the whole process of vehicle body repair, detailing the minimum requirements for personnel training and maintenance of equipment, as well as the suitability of repair methods and the quality of materials used.