Anna Reade, Client Relationship Manager and Helen Carling, Head of Marketing at SYNETIQ, talk to ATF Professional about the company’s path to sustainability and why other vehicle recycling operations need to head on this path too.

Where did sustainability begin for the company?

Helen told us that sustainability first began with Car Transplants and FAB Recycling, two of the companies that were part of the merger to make up SYNETIQ. FAB Recycling was the first company to become carbon neutral; they were offsetting before people knew that they should be offsetting.

Jason Cross, Director of FAB Recycling, found experts that helped him and made the recommendations. And they did what many people are doing now, but so many years before its time. 

At the time of the merger, Tom Rumboll came on board, whose career had been very much focused on sustainability. It’s important to him to work for a company that makes a difference, and that’s why he decided to come to SYNETIQ; he could see that potential. He said that it is all about sustainability, and if you’re not doing the right thing, you’re going to lose out commercially – no one will want to work with you if you’re not doing the right thing. He knew the industry was sustainable by nature, but he wanted to make sure SYNETIQ was sustainable by their actions.

Public perception is changing, and larger companies, insurance companies, and fleets are in that space. So it’s not a case of sustainability for someone else; it’s for everyone.

When asked about sustainability and how vehicle recycling operations can start, Helen said: “There’s lots of help out there. It’s easier and less scary than you might think – it’s as simple as understanding where your company is now and where you want it to be, then you can put together your plan on how to get there.” 

In terms of practical help, SYNETIQ went down the lines of working with circular economy specialists. Helen suggested to start by getting in touch with your local Chamber of Commerce and tell them you need some help, and they will point you in the right direction. Helen said: “You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but you do have to invest time and energy. There are people who the government are helping to help you. So just reach out and get the advice.

“It is likely that some ATFs, especially those with ISOs, are already doing a lot of right things – it’s not about sustainability; it’s about common sense.

“So I guess the advice is, it’s not as hard as you think it is. Put one day aside, do some googling, make some phone calls, and find out if you can get someone to measure your carbon footprint. Think about where you want to be, and then start working. 

The really important thing is, if you’re a small ATF, to get everyone to work on this together. For a larger ATF, create a team from different departments to provide their input, as they all bring something different. You can’t do it on your own.”

But what are the benefits? For the time and energy spent looking into where a vehicle recycling company can be more sustainable, why should the vehicle recycler do this?

Helen told us that it is helping the environment and will save them money. Therefore, profitability will increase. But ultimately, very soon, customers will decide if they want to work with you, and this will form part of their criteria. And in any case, Helen said, now, if you’re a limited company, and depending on the size, it’s a legal requirement that Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) is submitted in your company accounts. 

Anna gave an example by saying that in her capacity to do due diligence for clients, she couldn’t believe how there is now so much more information on climate change than 18 months ago. The awareness of sustainability has increased, and there has been a real shift in what they expected. 

Helen said that although customers are coming for parts or auction vehicles based on value right now, mindsets are changing so dramatically and quickly that it will impact their sales line in two or three years as consumers understand the carbon savings.

Anna said that some repairers are now being assessed for carbon neutrality to be verified for PAS2060 Carbon Neutral. They’re tasked with who they buy off in their supply chains, the same as vehicle recyclers, and this is a major thing. In SYNETIQ’s case, they can tell them the carbon savings. And according to Helen, this is where SYNETIQ is successful; repairers are looking at their own supply chain to see where they can improve it, so head to SYNETIQ for parts knowing of their approach of reducing their carbon footprint. She said: “It’s massive, it’s not just for larger companies, it’s for everyone, and it’s coming.”

When asked about what changes can happen in the short term to make a vehicle recycling company more sustainable, Helen said that the process is simple. “Start by breaking it down to ‘Where are you now?’ ‘Where do you want to be?’ ‘What’s the gap?’ and ‘Build yourself a map’. You may find you are, for example, already using LED lights, reducing the amount of paper you are using, introducing electric vehicles. You might be closer to carbon-neutral than you think.”

ATFs should create their own version; to think about where they are now, to find out where they want to go and take some steps. It may take many steps, but it depends on the time and resources they have available.

Anna said that if you know where you are, you can move forward, but it’s also about not being overwhelmed because the small changes can make a big difference. And because of her creating SYNETIQ’s Carbon Literacy Training, she has been able to make her colleagues aware that they personally can make a difference within SYNETIQ and their home life. Everyone needs to talk about climate change and spread their carbon literacy knowledge. 

Helen reiterated Anna’s sentiment by saying that regardless of the size of your operation, it doesn’t matter how large or small the changes you make; it could be changing the light or trying to reduce your paper. Helen said that one of the team members at SYNETIQ has an A4 piece of paper that has been laminated and is wiped after each use; resourceful and great from a GDPR point of view.

It seems, according to Anna, the sustainability revolution has created a real buzz throughout the whole of SYNETIQ. As part of SYNETIQ’s Carbon Literacy training, people have to put forward a personal as well as a group action. At weekends, some people even find articles related to sustainability and share them with her. They are car sharing, or maybe cycling to work; all these different things are making people more aware, and they are calculating their carbon footprint not just in the workplace but outside too.

When it comes to training, as one of SYNETIQ’s Carbon Literacy Trainers, Anna said that within SYNETIQ, the training is for everybody; some people in the office, for example, don’t necessarily know every part of the depollution and dismantling process. So she includes some information about it, such as how their copper granulator is putting a finite resource back into the world.

We asked if sustainability is just a phase, and Helen told us that “It is a buzzword. Right now, everyone is focused on sustainability. But think less about sustainability, and think about more about doing the right thing. You have to do the right thing to survive in business, and right now, the right thing is to focus on sustainability, protect the family, protect your business, protect the planet and show that you’re doing it.”

A Doncaster boxing club, which helps young people around Adwick, Bentley and beyond, has been saved from the brink of closure – thanks to the support of a significant local business donation.

Since being established in 2001, the amateur club has trained people of all ages and skill levels, becoming a vital resource in the area. As well as taking boxers to English National Levels, the club has become a pillar of the community – aiding the mental health of young people and encouraging the importance of discipline and other life skills.

After a series of national lockdowns left the club on the ropes, coach John Loosemore launched an appeal in the local area.

“Since we started Highfields ABC over 20 years ago, we’ve always managed to generate our own income through memberships, shows and school visits. This is the first time we’ve ever had to launch an appeal like this, which shows how desperate we were.”

“We set ourselves a target of £2,500 – the amount needed to keep us afloat for the next six months – and hoped we could count on some local support.”

Thanks to a significant £2000 donation by SYNETIQ – the UK’s leading integrated vehicle salvage and recycling company based on Bentley Moor Lane – Highfields ABC has surpassed that target, and is now ready to take on 2021.

SYNETIQ’s donation will go towards the training and certification required by the ABA Governing body, such as First Aid and Child Safety, as well as COVID-19 safety measures.

“I really appreciate what SYNETIQ has done,” said John. “We’ve helped hundreds of kids over the years in Doncaster and the surrounding areas, and I’m pleased we can continue to do so. We’d like to thank everyone who has supported Highfields ABC.”

SYNETIQ, the UK’s largest integrated salvage and vehicle recycling company, has achieved a bronze accreditation from the Carbon Literacy Project. As the first company in the sector to have achieved the award, the Bronze accreditation further underlines SYNETIQ’s commitment to furthering sustainability. 

As a Bronze Carbon Literate Organisation, SYNETIQ has demonstrated an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis. 

Carbon Literacy accreditation forms an integral part of ‘Our Road to Tomorrow’, SYNETIQ’s new sustainability initiative and internal roadmap designed to lead the company towards increasing levels of sustainability and ultimately, to achieving carbon neutrality.  

As part of the program, SYNETIQ colleagues have been invited to undergo individual carbon literacy training. Over 130 colleagues across the business have already completed the bespoke training programme or have signed up to take part, with CEO Tom Rumboll being one of the first to become certified.

Tom has himself exchanged his ICE vehicle for an electric BMW i3, as well as installing a bank of chargers across all SYNETIQ sites to encourage other SYNETIQ staff to do the same.  

Tom said: “SYNETIQ is proud to be a bronze accredited member of the Carbon Literacy Project. While we help our clients to achieve significant CO₂ savings through the sale and reuse of our green parts, it is integral to our sustainability goals that we minimise our own internal carbon footprint.” 

“As part of our internal sustainability strategy, we continue to ensure our own processes are as sustainable as our green parts. From carbon literacy training to   encouraging EV use, we remain committed to sustainability on all levels.”   

Commenting on the accreditation, Phil Korbel, Co-Founder of the Carbon Literacy Project said: “SYNETIQ’s environmental performance is no marginal issue, it’s central to the business, so it’s entirely fitting that they are the first Carbon Literate Organisation in their sector. Their Carbon Literacy Training – led from the top – is a tangible sign of their commitment to doing their bit to lessen the climate crisis. I’m sure it will inspire others across the sector and beyond to do the same.” 

SYNETIQ, the UK’s leading integrated salvage and vehicle dismantling company is marking World Environment Day with the launch of its new all electric green parts delivery van and the installation of EV charging points at its Doncaster site.

Amusingly nicknamed “St-EV Wonder,” the new Mercedes Benz e-Sprinter is serious first step towards an electric vehicle fleet for SYNETIQ’s fleet, and forms part of the company’s new internal sustainability initiative, named ‘The Road to Tomorrow.’

Powering the van will be a newly installed bank of EV charging points, which will provide on-site charging not only for SYNETIQ’s vans, but also for any employees to charge their own EV’s while at work. Now fully installed at the Doncaster site, similar charging points are being installed across all SYNETIQ sites in the coming weeks.

SYNETIQ CEO, Tom Rumboll, commented: “Unveiling our latest emissions-free parts van in celebration of World Environment Day underlines our ongoing commitment to sustainability. Of course, sustainability and the environment are important on more than just one day a year, so we introduced our ‘Road to Tomorrow’ strategy to ensure that sustainability is at the heart of everything we do as a company.”

With a current level of 95.3% of vehicles passed through SYNETIQ being fully recycled, and with green parts use contributing to an annual saving of 5,500,000 kgs of CO2e over the last two years, as well as a comprehensive road map towards achieving further carbon savings, SYNETIQ’s sustainability bar is already high. The Road to Tomorrow initiative ensures that the current levels will be seen as a base line to be improved via revised working practices, employee education and incentives.

Rumboll added “Our internal carbon literacy training program, the independently investigated carbon audit we carried out earlier in the year and host of other internal schemes are designed to educate and encourage us both as a company and as individuals to act in the most sustainable way possible, not just on World Environment Day, but every day going forwards. We’ve worked hard to understand the true CO2 savings we’re achieving each day, and the next step on Our Road to Tomorrow is demonstrating this to our clients and customers.”

SYNETIQ, Britain’s largest integrated salvage and dismantling company, has joined the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) as it continues its mission to help build a sustainable future for motoring in the UK.

SMMT membership supports SYNETIQ’s plans to work collaboratively with the Automotive sector as a whole, supporting the business’ sustainability strategy.

Tom Rumboll, CEO of SYNETIQ, said: “As a company, we’re changing how we talk with our customers and clients about the achievable financial and environmental benefits of using green parts. By working with the SMMT we will continue to learn and understand how we can work and support the entire automotive sector.”

As a member of SMMT working groups, such as Electric Vehicle, Aftermarket and Remanufacturing, the business hopes that by working closely with manufacturers, the industry can maximise the reuse and recycling potential of each vehicle, reducing CO2 emissions and material waste further.

As a leader in its sector, SYNETIQ has launched several key initiatives to highlight environmental benefits of integrated salvage and recycling. This includes training a large proportion of their colleagues on carbon literacy, as well as a study into the CO2 savings that can be achieved through the use of Green Parts in vehicle repair.

The use of Green Parts provides significant financial savings, with significantly less embedded carbon and roughly 50% lower cost than their newly manufactured equivalents. These OEM original parts – non-safety critical components such as doors, body panels and headlamps, are removed from damaged vehicles – then graded, cleaned, safety checked and issued with a certificate of conformity. These parts are then supplied to key insurance providers, bodyshops and fleet operators.

Last year SYNETIQ also announced its plans to expand and invest in its Winsford site, as the UK gears up for a shift to purely electric vehicles from 2035. Establishing Europe’s first dedicated EV processing and recycling centre, the site will not only handle existing and future generations of EVs, but also operate as a centre of excellence and provide certified training to other businesses in the safe handling of EV batteries and architecture.

SYNETIQ is the largest ebay seller of used car and motorcycle parts in the UK, and its approach for accurately cataloging and describing each part means buyers can quickly find what they need. With 150,000+ components online now, and up to 10,000 new items added every month, it’s become a valuable resource for private owners.

SYNETIQ, Britain’s largest integrated salvage and dismantling company, has re-stated its commitment to a more sustainable future. With growing green parts usage, and an increased focus on corporate and social responsibility, SYNETIQ is leading the way in creating a sustainable future for motoring, a journey that SYNETIQ has termed ‘Our Road to Tomorrow.’

As one of the  foundations for this initiative, SYNETIQ has commissioned a study into the true Carbon footprint of its own activities, as well as the CO2e savings that can be achieved through the use of its green parts in automotive repairs. The study, carried out by independent circular economy consultancy Oakdene Hollins, has revealed the true environmental benefits of using green components rather than brand new OEM parts..

By taking into account the parts supplied annually by SYNETIQ to the Insurance and fleet repairer network, the carbon savings are staggering. In the last two years alone, SYNETIQ estimates that it has saved 5,500,000 kgs of CO2e emissions^*.

This saving is the equivalent to:

• A year’s electricity for 1000 homes
• 3,094,410 litres of burned petrol – over two years of an average family car use in the UK.

Tom Rumboll, CEO of SYNETIQ, said: “We are very excited about our Carbon Saving Calculator project. It’s a key part of our ongoing sustainability strategy. By understanding the precise carbon savings  of each part we sell for reuse,, we can share data to support our clients in meeting their own sustainability targets.

It also drives the focus on our own internal processes  to keep improving these savings. We have known the advantages to green parts for a long time and with this accurate and independent measurement we can tell our clients exactly what their use means to them.”

With the largest and most diverse stock of green parts for most vehicles in the UK, bodyshops, fleet and insurance companies   can not only save the environment and money, but also time. SYNETIQ’s stock management systems and rapid delivery mean that vehicle down-time is minimised, getting vehicles back on the road faster, for less. 

In addition, SYNETIQ is the largest seller of green car and motorcycle parts via ebay in the UK, and its approach for accurately cataloguing and describing each part means buyers can quickly find what they need.

With 150,000+ green parts online now, and up to 10,000 new items added every month, SYNETIQ’s ebay store is a valuable resource for private owners and independent garages). In the next phase of this project, SYNETIQ will explore the Carbon savings it has achieved by supplying these end-user  customers.

SYNETIQ is excited to announce the appointment of Neale Laker, who has joined the business in the new role of Green Parts Director.

As Green Parts Director, Neale is responsible for all parts sales and each of SYNETIQs parts retail channels – from items supplied through SYNETIQs mygreenparts portal to insurers and fleets, to those sold over the counter to the public.

As the business gears up for a new growth phase within the green parts sector, Neale’s role will be instrumental in ensuring SYNETIQ can meet increasing demand from clients and customers.

Neale brings over 35 years’ experience from the Automotive industry across 5 continents, covering sales, technical, and operations roles, having previously worked for Tesla, Saab and General Motors.

As the only truly integrated salvage and vehicle recycling company, SYNETIQ works with insurance and fleet clients to reduce the environmental impact of collision repair – by resupplying perfectly good parts from salvage vehicles back into clients’ supply chain.

Not only does the use of green parts negate CO2 emissions generated by manufacturing, items are also significantly cheaper than the equivalent new OEM.

The news follows the recent announcement of ‘The Road to Tomorrow’ – SYNETIQs plan to be the most sustainable and responsible business in the vehicle recycling industry, with an ambitious goal of being carbon neutral in the next few years.

Neale Laker said: “I am delighted to be joining the winning team here at SYNETIQ. We have clearly defined goals as a business, which I am supremely confident we can achieve. I am very excited to engage with all my team and collaborate closely to achieve amazing things. We need to grasp this opportunity and set the industry standard for Green parts across all channels.”

Tom Rumboll, CEO at SYNETIQ, said: “Neale is the right person, in the right role at the right time, where attracting someone of Neale’s calibre is a statement of both the quality of our business today, and our ambitions for the future.”

Chance Changing Lives is delighted to have worked in collaboration with SYNETIQ to enable the purchase of an electric Nissan NV200 van.

SYNETIQ, the UKs largest integrated salvage and green parts provider, has been instrumental in helping deliver an electric van to Crewe based Chance Changing Lives (CCL), a leading charity that utilise surplus food to feed families in need. 

SYNETIQ’s contribution, along with the generous support of Medicash and The Guinness Partnership, allows CCL to use the electric Nissan NV200 as part of a shared ownership agreement. Ensuring the charity can provide food to all members and guests, and meet a wider need through local charity connections, the use of the EV allows CCL to hit one of its sustainability objectives.

Chance Changing Lives supports local people through the collection and redistribution of over 500kg of surplus food from local supermarkets each week. Together with SYNETIQ it recognises the link between climate change and the threat of current and future homelessness, disease, food and water shortages. With poverty effecting millions of people around the world, both CCL and SYNETIQ are committed to environmentally responsible.

SYNETIQ’s clients include some of the UK’s largest fleets and insurance companies and, by recycling end of life vehicles and resupplying non-safety-related, reusable parts back into the repair sector, helps them to operate a more sustainable business.

John Schofield, Executive Director at SYNETIQ said: “We’re proud to support such an important local charity with a more environmentally friendly vehicle, in way that mirrors the vision of SYNETIQ and CCL to lead the way in sustainability.”

Michele Parks, chair of Chance Changing Lives said: “Without the help of John Schofield and the SYNETIQ team, we would not have been able to own a vehicle. This will make a huge difference to us, enabling us to continue meeting the needs of our community and going further to provide more. The opportunity to use an electric van was very important to us as we recognise our responsibility in reducing our carbon footprint.”

Serving between 10-30% of the most deprived wards in the UK, CCL covers some of poorest and hardest to reach people have been the massively impacted by COVID-19. During the pandemic the charity has supported 120+ families at its Community Pantry, whilst its homeless kitchen continued serving over 50 vulnerable people each Saturday with a superb hot meal. 

SYNETIQ is delighted to announce it has renewed its multi-year agreement with Covéa Insurance, to continue providing salvage management and green parts supply across the UK. SYNETIQ shares Covéa’s values and strategic alignment, which are the primary reasons for the success of the partnership.

Alastair Sherwin, Claims Motor Engineers Manager at Covéa Insurance, said “SYNETIQ’s values of care, simplicity and integrity align perfectly with our own vision, and we’ve stood side by side throughout the pandemic to continue helping our customers.

“SYNETIQ are transparent, reliable and friendly to deal with, with high standards in compliance, GDPR protection and ISO accreditation. We’re also impressed with the way they’re investing in the future, as we all strive towards becoming more sustainable.” Continued Alastair.

Simon Schofield, Client Director at SYNETIQ, said: “Having worked with Covéa on designing and implementing new processes, I am delighted that our excellent relationship has been recognised with a new agreement. Our recent investments in new technology, reporting and processes are in-line with our corporate strategy. As we look to the future, we will be focusing on providing a great service, with sustainability at the core.”

SYNETIQ has recently implemented new storage and recovery processes, along with document and key management, to maximise efficiency and customer experience for Covéa and its policyholders.

SYNETIQ, the UK’s largest integrated salvage and vehicle recycling company, recently announced a new, state-of-the-art facility for processing electric vehicles at its Winsford site. As the UK heads towards a ban on new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030, SYNETIQ is gearing up its capacity to process new vehicle technology at scale.

Covéa Insurance is part of the French mutual insurance group Covéa and was established in the UK over 60 years ago. It offers a range of insurance services, including commercial, motor, property and protection, as well as life and critical illness cover.

SYNETIQ has successfully launched a new class leading, innovative live Web Chat – meaning its quicker and easier than ever to reach SYNETIQs Parts and Salvage Auction teams. The new technology is part of SYNETIQs investment plan, supporting its focus on delivering great customer experience.

The Zendesk platform has been used for the new Web Chat, replacing the system which was rolled out in record time by SYNETIQ shortly after the COVID-19 lockdown. Although the outgoing system was still performing effectively, the business still identified room for improvement.

“Since we introduced Web Chat in April 2020, the system has handled most of our customer contact for auction, parts sales and customer service, wheels & tyres, sell my car, and mygreenfleet,” says Dave Harcourt, IT Director at SYNETIQ.

“As a team, we are all focused on improving the experience we give to our customers and clients. We’ve recently celebrated improvements in our Trustpilot score and reductions in our response time to customers, and we don’t want to stop there.”

Zendesk is used by lots of household names including Uber, Tesco, Airbnb, Vodafone, and Netflix. As the UK’s leading integrated salvage and vehicle recycling company, SYNETIQ says the system is perfectly suited to its requirements and growth ambitions.

“Our Sales & Service team can now handle web chat, email, social media, and WhatsApp contact, meaning customers can contact us in the best way for them,” continues Dave.

“We already have a frequently asked questions (FAQs) section on our website, but the new version will use automation to offer answers to common queries, helping our customers find the answer they need as swiftly as possible. We have also introduced FAQs in the three most common foreign languages of our customers – Polish, Greek, and Romanian.”

The business will now move to the next stage of customer experience improvements and is expected to reveal further investments later this Spring.

SYNETIQs new Web Chat feature can be found by visiting www.synetiq.co.uk and using the green ‘Help’ button at the top right of the homepage.

Whether you’re looking for a replacement engine for your supercar, or that bit of bumper trim for a Renault, SYNETIQ, the UK’s leading vehicle salvage and recycling company, has you covered for used car and motorcycle spares.

Increasingly private buyers are keeping their vehicles moving by purchasing parts from SYNETIQ’s stock of original car and motorcycle items online, with the peace of mind that each part has been thoroughly inspected and has full traceability back to the donor vehicle. The majority of parts come with a six-month warranty and even the hassle of shipping is sorted, with free delivery on most items.

As the largest seller of used car and motorcycle parts via ebay in the UK, SYNETIQ’s approach to accurately cataloguing and describing each part means it’s the best place to start your search. With 150,000 (and growing) components online now, and up to 10,000 new items added every month, it’s a treasure trove for car enthusiasts, hobby mechanics, restorers and even modifiers.

Prices start at just £5, and the majority of parts are listed as buy it now items – ensuring you get what you need as quickly as possible for the right price.

Five finds on SYNETIQ’s ebay store

1. 2011 Maserati GranTurismo engine – £7250
2. 2018 Ducati Multistrada 1260 Pikes Peak engine – £2990
3. Five Land Rover Defender Boost alloy wheels/tyres – £800
4. 2003 VW Transporter T5 WAECO CR50 fridge – £310 (bid)
5. 2006 Ford Transit, passenger door mirror glass – £10

Faster and greener parts for any car

Although well known for servicing the UK auto repair trade, SYNETIQ’s used vehicle parts are also available for purchase by private customers and, with a growing number of vehicle makes and models processed each month, you shouldn’t have to search for long to find what you’re looking for.

In addition to buying genuine and inspected used parts for a lot less than the brand new equivalent, buyers are also helping the environment and lowering CO2 emissions by fitting parts that have already been manufactured.

Supercars and luxury saloons are just as much a part of the inventory as more common vehicles and in the last 12 months alone, engines and drivetrains from Bentley, Maserati, McLaren and Porsche have been sold for re-use alongside the more popular items such as door mirrors and lamp clusters for family cars from Ford, SEAT and Vauxhall.

Dave Bradley, Ecommerce Manager at SYNETIQ said “The sale of parts through ebay has really taken off over the last few years, but we saw a phenomenal jump during the first lockdown in 2020. With people at home, and spare time on their hands, they cracked on with repairing or upgrading their cars. We’re seeing sales grow every month and are working to add even more parts to the store every week.”

A multimillion-pound investment by SYNETIQ, Britain’s largest integrated salvage and recycling company, will ready its Winsford site into the UK’s first facility with dedicated EV and Hybrid dismantling capability. The investment will provide EV-specific equipment such as depollution ramps and quarantine areas for the handling of compromised battery packs at the facility, which is already manned by extensively EV-trained specialists.

“We have seen a steady year-on-year rise in the number of electric and hybrid vehicles brought in for end-of-life processing; as the race for reduced emissions intensifies and these vehicles become both older and more commonplace, demand for their associated green parts will continue to increase,” explains Tom Rumboll, CEO of SYNETIQ.

“Technologies and manufacturing techniques will continue to evolve, but the need to reuse and recycle vehicles will remain. Now is the perfect time to invest in our ability to efficiently process EVs and prepare for increased future demand.”

Figures released by the company mirror the growing popularity of EVs and results of external studies. According to data from GoCompare, the Toyota Prius is the UK’s most accident-prone car, being involved in 111 incidents for every 10,000 examples on the road. This correlates directly with SYNETIQ’s data; since 2015 the Mk2 Prius has been both SYNETIQ’s most frequently processed hybrid and most popular green parts donor vehicle.

Battery packs are currently the most popular – and highest value – component reused from EVs and Hybrids by SYNETIQ. “The emergence of advanced powertrain technologies, operating high voltage systems and posing EV-specific risks such as thermal runaway, has altered best practice for the way they are treated, handled and stored,” states Rumboll.

“Vehicle end-of-life consideration has the potential to provide significant emissions savings that complement gains in reducing exhaust gas emissions; adapting our Winsford site is the first step in ensuring an efficient dismantling process that helps reduce the cost of keeping EVs on the road for longer,” he concludes.

“By utilising the four Rs approach of Reduce, Reuse, Remanufacture and Recycle, SYNETIQ operates a fully integrated approach to ensuring that, where possible, vehicles are kept in life and, when they can’t be put back on the road, their parts are compliantly dismantled to maximise reuse and minimise environmental impact.”

To mark National Apprenticeship Week, SYNETIQ is reflecting on its own apprenticeship success stories in three areas of the business.

The UK’s leading integrated salvage and vehicle recycler now employs apprentices in Human Resources, IT and Vehicle Dismantling, with colleagues developing important skills through on-the-job training.

As a business with an annual pay bill above the Government’s £3 million threshold, SYNETIQ pays the Apprenticeship Levy. This fund can be used to pay apprenticeship wages and training providers, allowing companies to nurture and invest in future talent.

Natalie Buckley, Head of HR at SYNETIQ, said: “We’re always looking at ways to maximise the Apprenticeship Levy for our existing workforce and potential new employees. Like many businesses, each of our departments rely on a wide range of colleagues with different skills, so there are so many opportunities on offer for Apprentices.”

SYNETIQ is also supplying donations of vehicles and parts to Colleges and Vocational Learning Centres in areas local to its site, including Hall Cliffe School Wakefield, Yorkshire Children’s Centre, Bromley Beacon Academy and Reaseheath College.

Vocational schools offer students a more hands-on approach to learning, teaching practical skills in preparation for the next steps into further education or work. By supporting Motor Vehicle colleges, SYNETIQ is helping to reduce the skills shortage within the industry – with the vision that the students it supports can one day join the SYNETIQ team.

In November 2020, SYNETIQ supplied vehicle parts to Bodyshop students within the NPTC Group of Colleges – Wales’ largest training centre for vocational students. The college currently has 50 students completing its Automotive Refinishing & Body Repair course, learning skills such as panel repair, paintwork and polishing.

John Ellis, Motor Vehicle Tutor at Yorkshire Children’s Centre, said. “I want to thank everyone at SYNETIQ for their help and cooperation in supporting the Yorkshire Children’s Centre at the Brian Jackson College. Without the help of companies like SYNETIQ, it would not be possible to offer high quality vocational training that the industry now expects.”

Click here to listen now

Hear SYNETIQ’s new CEO, Tom Rumboll, give his fascinating insight into the next steps for vehicle processing, the future of automotive recycling, and how SYNETIQ will continue to lead the industry in the future.

Covering a huge range of interesting subjects, Tom gives the background to the merger of four separate businesses which led to the creation of SYNETIQ, the UK’s largest integrated salvage and vehicle recycling company. Tom lends his considerable knowledge to this podcast, including his predictions for the future of the industry, and personal transportation as a whole.

‘Depollution, by Salvage Wire,’ is a podcast dedicated to the interesting and inspiring leaders in the vehicle salvage and vehicle recycling industry. In the episode recorded 8th January, Tom discusses the career path that led him to his role as the newly appointed CEO the UK’s leading salvage company. He shares the insights he has gained over the course of his, which spans more than 20 years, both from a personal, and a business perspective.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone keen to gain the insiders view of a crucial industry, from one of its youngest, most inspiring leaders.

Click here to listen now.

SYNETIQ, the UK’s largest integrated salvage and vehicle recycling company, is proud to continue its role as title sponsor of TAS Racing for the 2021 British Superbike Championship season, under the banner of SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad.

For the second successive season, SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad will be the official BMW team in the race series. With top rider Andrew Irwin having joined fellow track star Danny Buchan on the team at the end of 2020, SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad is taking to the track in 2021 with a fresh livery, top riders and an eye on pole position.

As part of a wide-reaching program of support and sponsorship across different forms of motorsport, the headline sponsorship of a leading team in the British Super Bike Championship will see SYNETIQ put its ethos of leading through excellence into action yet again, on two wheels as well as four.

Commenting on the renewed support of the team, Richard Martin, Chairman of SYNETIQ, said: “We are proud to be the headline sponsor of this great team for the second season in a row. With the backing of the hard work, dedication and support of the wider SYNETIQ BMW team, I can’t wait to see what Andrew Irwin and Danny Buchan can achieve on the track 2021.”

As the largest integrated salvage and vehicle recycling company, formed to create the most innovative and trusted business in the industry, SYNETIQ is proud to have major household names in its portfolio. These include insurers, accident management companies, fleets, police forces, logistics companies, vehicle repair bodyshops, and remanufacturers. In 2021, its name will be found at the sharp end of the grid.

Team Principal of SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad, Philip Neill explained: “We pride ourselves on building long-term relationships with our partners and we are naturally delighted to retain SYNETIQ as our title partner for the second year in 2021, which will also be our seventh consecutive year together with BMW Motorrad. 2020 was a difficult year for everyone in many ways and we are excited at the prospects of the 2021 BSB season with two very exciting young riders and the new BMW M1000 RR.”

SYNETIQ, the UK’s largest UK-integrated salvage and vehicle recycling company, is delighted to have been included in the prestigious Yorkshire Business Insider list of the 50 Most Exciting Companies in the region.

Celebrating the companies that display outstanding initiative, ingenuity, and innovation, those lauded are the businesses ‘primed to make a big difference in the near future’ and destined to become household names.

Headquartered in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, SYNETIQ has recently made headlines with significant investment in its sites and infrastructure. In December the business announced a 25-acre expansion of two of its Doncaster sites, integrating them to create one new industry-leading operation.

The company is also innovating, in line with the Government’s announcement of a ban on conventionally powered cars by 2030, with plans for a new centre of excellence for electric vehicle recycling at its Winsford site. The first of its kind in the country, it will form an invaluable resource as the UK gears up for a shift to zero-emissions vehicles by 2035.

Speaking of the news, SYNETIQ’s recently appointed CEO, Tom Rumboll, said: “We’re immensely proud to have made the Yorkshire Business Insider 50 Most Exciting Companies list.  It is a reflection of the progress we have made since SYNETIQ was created and the focus we place on not only the company, but also our people . . 2020 presented challenges, but we’ve emerged stronger and ready to seize the opportunities that 2021 presents. we have deep and broad roots in Yorkshire, and we see our home a vital part of who we are.”

In addition to the Yorkshire Business Insider announcement, SYNETIQ is also currently a finalist in three categories for Doncaster Business Awards 2020/21, which will be unveiled as part of a ground-breaking digital event in March.

SYNETIQ has revolutionised its payment processes for its auction customers by implementing HSBC’s Open Payments platform.

The UK’s largest vehicle salvage and recycling company is the first in its sector to introduce the new platform, marking the latest improvement in customer experience for vehicle buyers.

The new platform allows SYNETIQ to send payment requests for auction purchases direct to the customer’s bank, with values and references set automatically, which means funds can be transferred directly between banks – a first within the salvage industry.

This will drastically cut administration time for SYNETIQ and its customers and eliminate the chances of incorrect or misplaced payments.

As a major development that offers secure online money transfers, Open Payments dramatically improves the payment process for SYNETIQ’s vehicle salvage auction customers. It also streamlines the firm’s accounting processes, while bringing ease of use and peace of mind to customers.

HSBC Open Payments delivers regulated access and control of consumer banking and financial accounts through third-party applications with greater accountability. The introduction of the payment process by SYNETIQ provides both seller and buyer with improved cashflow and cash management.

Jonathan Pervin, SYNETIQ’s Financial Controller commented: “We are proud to be at the forefront of this latest technology. Through our collaboration with HSBC on the implementation of this new platform, SYNETIQ is able to offer the most secure payment system possible to our customers. The automation of internal processes that this enables will increase the efficiency of our service for our customers.”

The Open Payments platform was trialled by SYNETIQ and a few of its customers in December and, after unanimous approval, is being rolled out to all customers who purchase vehicles directly from SYNETIQ.

Open Payments is compatible with more than 40 major banks and, with coverage from most of the UK’s domestic banks already in place, customers can enjoy faster payments with added peace of mind.

Alongside the increased security offered by the system, this has allowed SYNETIQ to integrate the payment platform into its wider systems, automating many processes at the same time. Invoicing, payment-matching and fund clearance are now handled seamlessly by SYNETIQ’s own proprietary Frontier software.

The leading stock control software package for green parts management, Frontier Dismantling provides cloud-based stock control for hundreds of thousands of green parts and, although owned and developed by SYNETIQ, is widely used across the vehicle salvage and dismantling industry.

Frontier Salvage is the core salvage management system, also utilised across the industry. The software handles everything from insurance related contracts and vehicle uplifts, through to vehicles sales and recycling. Both Frontier systems are designed to make it as quick and easy as possible to process vehicles and parts.

With Open Payments, SYNETIQ is once again leading the industry. Offering improved customer experience and allowing new revenue streams, it helps provide a more sustainable service model. Jonathan Pervin added: “The launch of Open Payments with HSBC shows that SYNETIQ continues to innovate across all aspects of our business, driving the industry forward through compliance, customer experience and increased simplicity across operations. We continue to strive towards continual improvement in all of these areas.”

SYNETIQ has announced that, as of the 1^st January, current Executive Chairman Tom Rumboll has moved to become the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. Tom now takes overall responsibility for the performance of the business and its people.

Richard Martin, current Managing Director, will take up the role of Chairman; bringing many years’ of knowledge and experience as a key figure in the salvage and vehicle recycling industry.

Tom joined the team as Executive Chairman upon the formation of SYNETIQ, having played a pivotal role in the merger that created the market-leading salvage and vehicle recycling business.

Having spent the last 20 months focusing on integration, people, processes and proposition, whilst enhancing the governance of the well managed business, Tom has worked with the teams to develop better structure, measurement, planning and communication. His background in large PLCs, regulated industries and high growth businesses has proved valuable for SYNETIQ and the business is now poised for its next phase of growth.

The rest of the SYNETIQ Executive board remains unchanged, retaining the valued industry knowledge of John Schofield and Dave Harcourt, as well as Leigh Manton who joined as Finance Director in September 2019.

Richard Martin, Chairman of SYNETIQ, said: “My fellow shareholders and I know that Tom is the right person to take the SYNETIQ business forward as we enter our next phase of growth. He has our full support as we continue to work together as a strong team, making our vision of creating a vehicle recycling industry we can all be proud of a reality.”

Tom Rumboll said: “It is a real honour that the SYNETIQ shareholders trust me to head the business they have led so well for so long. The last few years of creating and subsequently integrating SYNETIQ have been a fantastic experience, and one that has identified a number of hugely exciting opportunities for the company. I feel privileged to lead the fantastic team of this very special business to a successful, sustainable and exciting future.”

SYNETIQ has been spreading Christmas cheer in the final run up to the holidays, by completing its last round of fundraising for The Sick Children’s Trust – raising over £7,000 in total.

Despite the company’s usual fundraising being disrupted by COVID, the SYNETIQ team got its charity work back on track with a series of virtual and remote activities that promoted individual challenges and encouraged people to donate.

With ten ‘Homes from Home’ around the country, The Sick Children’s Trust give families with a seriously ill child in hospital a warm and comfortable place to stay, and a friendly ear to listen, when they need it most.

“It’s not been an easy year for anyone, but we’re proud to have been able to carry on with our work in supporting deserving charities,” explains Tom Rumboll, Executive Chairman of SYNETIQ. “As a business we focused on adapting to the new and challenging work environment and, with many team members classed as key workers, we soon realised that we could approach fundraising in the same pragmatic way.”

The Sick Children’s Trust wants to keep families together by their child’s hospital bedside, and a donation of £30 can do that. Elisa Cappello-Dowd, Community Fundraising Manager at The Sick Children’s Trust said, “Having a seriously ill child is an incredibly worrying time and by giving families a place to stay it means they have one less thing to worry about.

“This year has been a challenging year for everyone, but especially families with children in hospital. As a charity, The Sick Children’s Trust has kept its doors open to these families to keep them together and support has never been needed more. We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone at SYNETIQ for choosing to take on a fundraising event for our charity, and helping us to keep families together.”

SYNETIQ, the UK’s largest vehicle salvage and recycling company, has supported the Sick Children’s Trust since 2019, and it’s just one of many charities and organisations that benefit from SYNETIQs Colleague and Community forum. This allows colleagues to vote on establishing the best use of the annual charity budget, and provides an opportunity for everyone to put forward their own initiatives for discussion.

SYNETIQs teams have walked, cycled and even skydived in order to drive donations for local and national organisations, and the business promises a ‘pound for pound’ scheme for all colleagues, matching the total raised by individuals for charity up to the value of £500.

Corporate Social Responsibility has been a priority for SYNETIQ’s since its formation and its efforts have been recognised, as it’s been shortlisted for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility at the Doncaster Business Awards.

At the start of the year SYNETIQ announced its partnership with Team BRIT, which supports people with physical and psychological challenges in accessing motorsport and aims to be the first all-disabled team to race in the Le Mans 24 hour.

The company also supports regional emergency services, including the First Responders for the North West Ambulance service West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue and the BARC North West Rescue Team, with practice days for event simulation. Held at SYNETIQ sites, they create a challenging training environment where rapid extraction methods and specialist tool training can be conducted safely.

The Vehicle Recycler’s Association has awarded SYNETIQ with the Stage 2 UK Standard for Reclaimed Parts from End-Of-Life Vehicles, following a two-part assessment at SYNETIQ’s Doncaster Head Office.

This new industry standard covers the removal, processing, and traceability of parts from damaged vehicles, ensuring they are safe for reuse. SYNETIQ supplies these ‘green parts’ to major fleets, Bodyshops, garages and private customers across the UK.

SYNETIQ sells original equipment (OE) non-safety related parts, such as collision panels, engines and gearboxes, through its parts procurement platform MyGreenFleet. Each part is graded from A to C, with any minor damage clearly highlighted. This quality control process is well established and means customers know exactly what to expect when ordering, with the item condition reflected in the price. The cashable saving from RRP can be as much as 75% when compared to new OE parts.

“We’re right behind this new VRA standard – it is a very positive step,” says Jason Cross, Client Relationship Director at SYNETIQ. ”We see it as being perfectly aligned with our vision: to lead the way in creating a vehicle recycling industry we can all be proud of. New, robust industry standards create a benchmark and inspire trust in the use of Green OE Parts. This can only help us and the insurance and fleet clients we serve.”

While reusing vehicle parts was traditionally a price-led decision, more information is being revealed about the environmental benefits of use. Last month, SYNETIQ reported it has helped British Gas to save 120,000kg of CO2, simply by using recycled replacement doors instead of comparable brand-new OE.

Jason added: “We’ve been supplying green parts to the fleet industry since 2010, and we’re now undertaking several trials with major UK insurers for use in insurer funded repair. Attitudes are changing towards green parts, and we’re grateful to the VRA for their efforts to raise the standards further.”