The VBRA is the only bodyshop industry stakeholder to snub the first meeting of the ABP Club standards working party, according to the organisers.

They are hoping the recent change of director general at the association will lead to a change of heart.

The ABP Club, which now has more than 170 full members, announced in January it would form an industry-wide committee to develop a set of common body repair standards.

It invited representatives from every sector of the industry including repairers, work providers and trade bodies like the MVRA, RMI and BSI to the first standards forum at Thatcham in Berkshire on March 9.

“We want to see if there is a will to have an industry wide standard,” says David Cresswell, ABP Club chairman and host of the standards working party. “It’s disappointing that the VBRA has replied to say they won’t be coming. I will call Malcolm Tagg and see if I can get him to come along.”

However, outgoing D-G Ron Nicholson, who leaves officially within the next two weeks, says: “The ABP Club is not an authority on the industry. We have very high standards – the highest in the industry.”