The Retail Motor Industry Federation has reached a landmark in its history after constant campaigning helped push membership past the 10,000 mark.

It marks the second consecutive year of growth for the proactive trade body, which in 2003 had about 9,600 members.

Beryl Walsh Atkins, director of membership services, puts the success down to the creation of the CarWise code, which helped raise its consumer protection profile.“The industry has realised membership is good for business,” she says.