Dunstable vehicle repair business wins award for its green initiatives
An accident repair centre based in Dunstable says it is “absolutely delighted” after winning an award for its initiatives to become environmentally friendly.
Hardings Accident Repair Centre on Lawrence Way, which moved to Dunstable in 2015, won the gold award at the National Body Repair Association’s Greener Bodyshop Awards.
The company was presented with the award by former world heavyweight boxing champion Frank Bruno during a ceremony at the home of Coventry City Football Club, the CBS Arena, earlier this month.
Explaining the environmental initiatives which had led to the company receiving the award, director Chris Watts said: “We have been making efforts to reduce the environmental impact of the business, including reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, and taking steps to reduce emissions.
“We have installed LED lighting throughout the business, and we have also focused heavily on the correct disposal and recycling of paint and other workshop waste.
“Where appropriate, we use green parts, helping to reduce waste and make better use of existing vehicle components.
“As the industry develops, we are also making sure we are equipped to work on electric vehicles, investing in the training and equipment needed for electric vehicle repairs.”
The company, which was established in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, in 2009 before relocating to Dunstable six years later, said it was ‘absolutely delighted’ at its success.
“Winning the Greener Body Shop Gold Award was a really proud moment for everyone at Hardings Accident Repair Centre,” Chris added.
“A lot of work has gone into making these changes, and it was fantastic to have the efforts of the whole team recognised.
“We want to use the award as motivation to keep moving forward, and we want to make sure our environmental efforts grow with us.
“We will continue to look at ways of reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, and reducing emissions, as well as keeping up with developments such as electric vehicle technology.”
The business was bought by the current owners in December 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, and Chris acknowledged that it was ‘a challenging time’ to take over the company.
“Since then the business has grown massively,” he said. “We have gone from a team of just five people to 14 staff today, which is something we are incredibly proud of.
“We have continued to develop within the vehicle repair industry, investing in our people, our equipment, and our processes, while always looking for ways to improve the business and the service we provide to our customers.”
Hardings Accident Repair Centre has had the British Kitemark for Vehicle Repairs, a certification that ensures repairs meet high safety and quality standards since 2021.
The National Body Repair Association is the UK’s sole trade association for car body repairers and is dedicated to supporting and elevating the sector.