The 2025 British Vehicle Salvage Federation (BVSF) AGM and Conference, held at Woodland Grange, Leamington Spa, on the 24th April, delivered a full day of critical updates, practical guidance, and industry collaboration across the vehicle salvage and recycling sectors. This year’s event balanced policy developments, regulatory reforms, operational best practices, and sustainability initiatives, making it essential for professionals in the field.
The day opened with the BVSF Annual General Meeting. Its Honorary Chairman, Percy Snow, led the formalities by acknowledging the Federation’s strong financial footing despite declining membership numbers. He praised the tireless efforts against illegal operators and emphasised the value of expert-driven representation in government and industry forums. A key takeaway was the Federation’s commitment to enhancing its digital presence and continuing education, particularly through revision support for COTC exams.
Graham West, Secretary General, then took to the floor to cover the day’s formal proceedings. He confirmed there were no changes to the committee and provided an update on the ongoing work of the BVSF on behalf of its members. Among the highlights, he noted that the association’s website had been modernised and its management outsourced. Strategic partnerships remain strong, and efforts to combat illegal operators online continue.
Graham also reported a decline in requests for the ABI Code of Practice, suggesting that more members now employ qualified personnel. He highlighted the numerous meetings held with government departments, the insurance industry, DVLA, DVSA, and police agencies to discuss the Salvage Code and initiatives aimed at preventing illegal operations.
He concluded his report by announcing that the 2024 conference would be his last, as he plans to step down from his role in the coming months.
Adam Murray from Solus (Aviva Group) followed with a highly engaging presentation on reclaimed parts in insurance repairs. Murray, a longstanding authority on repair processes, discussed the significant sustainability drive within insurers, such as Aviva, which is targeting net-zero by 2040. He outlined the practical barriers to the wider use of reclaimed parts, including provenance verification, safety-critical component restrictions, and challenges in matching specifications. Murray stressed the need to revisit and modernise the VRA standards, calling on the industry to work collaboratively to improve the usage of reclaimed parts, aiming to double the current integration rates.
From there, Claire Barton from Alison Services tackled the energy sector’s hidden scandal. Her session revealed the extent of historic misselling by energy brokers, likening it to the early days of the PPI crisis. She explained how businesses have unknowingly overpaid for decades due to undisclosed commissions embedded in energy contracts, a problem now being exposed by UK case law and Ofgem investigations. Claire urged businesses to act early to reclaim potentially substantial refunds before the legal system becomes congested.
Mark Hartell from the Institute of Vehicle Recovery (IVR) introduced a new and important initiative: a national training scheme for vehicle salvage operators.
Developed in partnership with influential industry players, the scheme aims to unify training standards across the sector. Modular, flexible, and aligned with National Occupational Standards, this course covers vehicle loading, multi-deck transporters, and the handling of electric and hybrid vehicles. Businesses can choose between accredited independent providers or develop in-house trainers. Mark emphasised that raising standards through consistent training would help protect workers and improve industry professionalism.
The Candid HR team provided a lively and relatable session on modern challenges. Touching on recruitment struggles, onboarding failures, and the importance of legally compliant policies, they illustrated their points with colourful anecdotes. Notably, the session warned businesses about the potential for soaring fines for right-to-work check failures and emphasised the importance of proactive people management to avoid costly tribunal claims.
The Environment Agency’s update was particularly relevant to operators handling waste and end-of-life vehicles. Sam Brackley explained the imminent regulatory reforms replacing the outdated waste carrier, broker, and dealer registration system. In the new system, businesses will be required to obtain permits under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, with new classifications including ‘controllers’ and ‘transporters’. The reforms will introduce technical competence requirements, three-year renewals, and stronger enforcement tools to tackle rogue operators more effectively.
Foridha Zaman from QSP Training introduced the Centre’s growing capabilities, especially in anticipation of the EA’s new regulatory requirements. Foridha also explained the importance of reversing assistant training, emphasising how simple, proactive training can drastically reduce workplace incidents linked to vehicle movements.
The final major session came from Beverly Morgans & Alice Beer from the DVLA, offering both operational updates and a deeper dive into certificate of destruction (CoD) processes. With over 50 million driver records and nearly £8 billion collected annually in vehicle taxes, the DVLA has outlined recent digital improvements, including a growing user base for its customer accounts system. Importantly for ATFs, they stressed the absolute importance of issuing accurate CoDs to prevent future liabilities for former vehicle owners. They also acknowledged ongoing frustrations with the paper-based V62 process but confirmed plans to digitise this, albeit within a longer timeline.
The event concluded with an evening dinner, during which attendees were entertained by a table magician and participated in a prize draw.
Graham West, Secretary General, commented:
“I am very grateful to all the members, partners, guests, and Management Committee members who attended the event on the 24th. It makes a huge difference to the day having a good turnout. This is not only for the businesses displaying but also for those presenting.
I hope that everyone had an enjoyable day and left with some valuable information they can use to make changes or improve their day-to-day for the better.
With this being my last AGM with The BVSF, I was hoping for it to be an event people would remember for the right reasons! I feel that the day & evening went well with some great displays and presentations alike. I was humbled to receive positive feedback from attendees on the day, which makes the planning and execution all worthwhile.
Thank you once again.”
