IRS Group enters strategic partnership with HALO in the United Kingdom

Bradley and Rosalind Hanson (HALO) & Matthias Rolinski (IRS)

With the acquisition on 01.10.2021 of HALO Accident Repair Centre Limited (abbreviated to 'HALO') in the United Kingdom, the IRS Group continues its course of expansion and growth in Europe. As the 62nd acquisition in just seven years, the associated entry into the UK market provides IRS with the opportunity to further maximise customer focus and satisfaction through the extended international network and HALO’s exceptional portfolio. With the new partnership, the IRS Group grows to 2,500 employees and 170 locations.

HALO is one of the UK's leading providers of accident repair services for insurers and car manufacturers. With a clear focus on fast and high-quality service, the digitalization of the entire service portfolio and unlimited customer satisfaction – as measured by an excellent Net Promoter Score – the British company stands out from other industry competitors in the UK. The IRS Group also recognises HALO's organic growth approach and the associated growth potential in the UK market.

The strategic partnership provides a nationwide service offering as ‘HALO powered by IRS’ that fundamentally reduces the repair costs of insurance partners, while ensuring a focus on the customer and their customer journey in claims processing. "An accident repair company centered on the customer and digital transformation is what makes HALO truly unique," said Matthias Rolinski, CEO of IRS Group. "By leveraging the newly created international network of employees, digital services, innovation, technical expertise from international manufacturers to employee development opportunities to supply chain support and resilience, we offer our customers a unique portfolio of services," Rolinski continues.

With this step, the IRS Group becomes the leading provider of spot painting, body repair and painting, dent- and hail-damage repair as well as rim repair and vehicle preparation in the European region.

Focus on digitalization and customer satisfaction

HALO was owned by Rosalind and Bradley Hanson until the very end. "Ros and Bradley have not only built an exceptional company, but have also developed an outstanding and consistently unique service offering. Their rapid service achieves industry-leading NPS and CSI scores and lower repair costs. Combined with digital tools to interact with consumers, the company has a compelling USP and enormous potential," explains Matthias Rolinski. "We are therefore delighted that Ros and Bradley will stay on board." In the new, extended family of companies, the two entrepreneurs will take an active role and, as Managing Directors of HALO, will steer and be responsible for the company in the UK.

"The core component of this partnership with IRS Group is to provide UK motor insurers with the unique and exceptional HALO repair experience for all their customers in the years to come. UK insurers can be confident that HALO 'powered by IRS' will build its business with people, the future collision repair customer experience, and sustainability at the forefront of its strategic planning," explains Bradley Hanson, Managing Director and co-owner of HALO.

Rosalind Hanson, Managing Director and co-owner of HALO, added: "We know that digital businesses have been the clear winners during the pandemic and associated lockdown and this 'new norm' of a digital customer experience is not going away. HALO's ability to adapt its service model through our digital platforms has set us apart and supported our clients and teams in the home office and working remotely. This is key to ensuring that we are ready for any coming uncertainties. At the same time, it's also clear that the systems and processes you have in place today can be flexible and quickly adapted to what may come tomorrow. The partnership with IRS will strongly support HALO in its aim to be at the forefront of the UK accident repair industry, providing a solution where others see a problem.”