RBS Insurance has stipulated that its bodyshops must reach Thatcham/BSI Kitemark accreditation.

RBS’s own repair centres – UK Assistance Accident Repair Centre – are on track to be the first group of UK repairers to achieve the kitemark, said David Mills, head of RBS motor repair. Out of its 15 sites, five are already kitemark-accredited.

Around 500 bodyshops are within the RBS network, of which 38% will be expected to be kitemark-compliant by January 1, 2009. These are the Tier A repairers which deal with the majority of RBS claims.

Its 180 Tier A repairers will be supported by RBS to achieve the kitemark in time. Mills said: “This will include focus groups and support sessions throughout the year which will ensure that everyone achieves this goal.”

Training for bodyshops to reach the PAS125 standard will include technical, potential estimator and general BSI/PAS process implementation training.

RBS will also allow body-shops to use its own kitemark-approved repair centres.

“As a major player in the insurance market, we have always fully supported PAS125, as it drives standards of repair throughout the industry. We want to assist in pushing the industry in the right direction,” said Mills.

Since its launch last January, the kitemark has been granted to 22 bodyshops, far less than the 150 bodyshops which were expected to be accredited by the end of last year.

Scott Hanney, BSI sales manager, said: “The reality is that the minimum standard is very challenging. We’ve not been in a position to get those through that we thought we could when we named that figure.”

Norwich Union and E-sure both signed up to the kitemark earlier in 2007.