TOP INDUSTRY MEMBERS ATTEND THE HCVA’S ‘HERITAGE MATTERS TOO’ EVENT AT BICESTER HERITAGE

Bicester, Oxfordshire 22nd April 2023 – Over 100 HCVA Trade Members and Guests enjoyed a packed day of news updates, networking and strategising at the organisation's second 'Heritage Matters' day held at the Hagerty’s Bicester Heritage Clubhouse on 11th April.

The keynote speech by Buckingham MP and Transport Select Committee member Greg Smith set the overarching tone, and established 'cooperation' as the theme for the day: "As the world around us evolves at an unprecedented pace," he said, "so too must our approach to cooperation. We must embrace emerging technologies, embrace diversity, and embrace change. Only by doing so can we ensure that the British Classic car industry remains at the forefront of global excellence."

The theme of cooperation ran through the entire day, which included a panel session with the CEOs of Aston Martin Works, JLR Classic and Bentley Mulliner chaired by Julian Barratt of SNG Barratt Ltd.

All three panellists conveyed a positive message to the assembled audience of independent company owners and representatives, and underscored their keenness as OEMs to continue to work together with their independent counterparts, to everyone's mutual benefit. As with all sessions, a Q&A period followed the discussion, and enabled the expert audience to comment, question and raise issues directly with the speakers.

Other sessions covered subjects as diverse as the industry's supply of new skilled technicians, how to get Historic cars in the hands of younger owners, advances and forthcoming challenges of DVLA policy, and a Market Forecast by Giles Gunning of classiccarvaluer.com which gave the audience a clear idea of market direction and a challenge to them to adapt their businesses in light of his superbly-presented market and user data.

The thorny question of Parts Quality and Pricing was presented by Jon Crocker of BCC Car Parts, who laid out the challenges of providing parts at an acceptable price to owners, while simultaneously providing first-class quality. He welcomed the HCVA's new 'Action on Parts' initiative, which will enable HCVA member companies from both sides of the manufacturer and installer divide to collaborate and improve parts quality, reduce warranty costs and achieve higher levels of Customer Satisfaction as a result.

He even mentioned the possibility of an HCVA 'kite mark' which he suggested could be adopted in future to reflect parts that have been through the new improvement system.

As you would expect from a Trade Organisation, Guy Lachlan of the HCVA set out a new array of Member Benefits aimed at the Small and Medium Enterprises in their membership, covering free and discounted Legal Services, discounted Credit Card processing, waste disposal and utilities, and access to capital. Rupert Cobb of Gunhill Studios also outlined his discount program for use of his company's film and music studio for HCVA members.

Guy also gave an update on the HCVA's 'Fuel Sustainability Rating' scheme announced at their previous event in October 2023, and said that assessment work was complete for three out of the four companies supplying Sustainable Liquid Fuels to the UK Classic Car market, while discussions with the fourth were in hand. The rating system will enable consumers to gain a simply-presented view of the true sustainability of each competing blend on the market, and cut through some of the unhelpful and incorrect terminology creeping into Sustainable Fuel marketing.

He also was at pains to underline how lucky the Classic Car market is that so much effort and skill is being expended by these and companies to provide Sustainable Liquid Fuels, and thereby the rare prospect of the Classic Car sector leading the sustainability agenda - as well as keeping them on the road.

Feedback from the day was universally positive, with feedback from Tony Grant of Small Car Big City Ltd, a company providing tours of London in Classic Minis, being typical: "This was my first attendance to an HCVA event," he said, "and I was impressed not only by the quality of the day and the opportunity to meet industry colleagues, but also the fact that so much of the content was directly applicable to my somewhat 'niche' business!”

ENDS

About HCVA

Established in 2021, the Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance is a not-for-profit trade organisation founded to represent the collective voice of SMEs within the historic and classic vehicle sector, supported by individual owners and enthusiasts.

Through collaboration, transparency, and proactive lobbying the HCVA seeks to increase awareness and education of the sector's economic and social benefits, to ensure those responsible for policy and regulation are challenged and held accountable, to promote sustainable innovation and technologies, and to ensure the HCVA member community is engaged and confident their voices will be heard.

For more information, please contact:

Shân Stokes
Email: press@hcva.co.uk
Phone: 01869 934525

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