National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA)

What National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA) does

The National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA) is a UK non-profit trade association founded in 1980 and headquartered in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, operating as the primary industry body for the UK light trailer and towing sector. It serves a member base of over 100 companies spanning manufacturers, towbar fitters, trailer and caravan service centres, trailer hire businesses, training providers, recovery operators, and parts suppliers, with a small staff (1-10 employees) and a Council chaired by Bev Howard. NTTA monetizes primarily through turnover-based membership subscriptions, supplemented by training course fees, accreditation revenue under its Quality Secured (QS) Trusted Workshop scheme, and affiliated products such as a first-of-its-kind Trailer Hire Insurance.

NTTA's core platform is its website hub and online directory, which provides postcode-based search across 30+ service categories and two quote-request flows that forward consumer enquiries to the five nearest member workshops. Adjacent products include the NTTA Trailer Safety Checks mobile application (iOS/Android) for guided daily trailer inspections, the UK's first Free Safety Checks programme for trailers up to 3500kg MAM, accredited training courses in trailer servicing and towbar fitting (with a new Towbar Installation Foundation Course launched in 2026), and the TER-based trailer registration service. The Trusted Workshop (Quality Secured) scheme is the association's primary accreditation mechanism, recognized by over one million members of the public and endorsed by the Camping and Caravanning Club and The Caravan and Motorhome Club.

NTTA pursues a partnership-led and government-engaged go-to-market model. Strategic alliances with manufacturers (AL-KO Kober, KARRT, Tow Trust, KNOTT Avonride, 3 Shires Trailers) anchor training delivery and industry endorsement. The association holds a formal seat through the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Trailer and Towing Safety, participates in the National Towing Working Group's Safety Framework, and collaborates with DVSA on trailer servicing schedules. Industry promotion is conducted through events (Recovery Tow Show, CV Show, TyreSafe Conference), an annual UK Trailer Safety Week campaign, and a multi-channel digital presence covering organic social, newsletter, and YouTube video content.

Name

National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA)

Legal name

National Trailer and Towing Association Ltd.

Website

https://ntta.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA) is a UK non-profit trade association founded in 1980 that serves over 100 member companies across the light trailer and towing industry through membership subscriptions, accreditation, training, and a consumer-facing directory platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Trade Association

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Transportation (4889)

SIC

Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Container/Chassis Inspection, Certification & Compliance Services (CSC, IICL, DOT/FMCSA) (TLAKACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trailer Maintenance, Inspection & Roadside Programs (as part of lease/rental) (TLABACAK), Towing, Recovery & Vehicle Removal Services (TLAJAJAC)

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Trailer safety accreditation
• Towbar fitting training
• Industry member directory
• Vehicle safety compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Barnsley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership subscriptions charged based on members' turnover. Multi-site members receive discounted rates (50% for second site, 75% for subsequent sites). New members expected to qualify for Quality Secured accreditation within two years. Payment accepted via Direct Debit (monthly, quarterly, or annual).
2. Trailer Hire Insurance: Exclusive first-of-its-kind Trailer Hire Insurance launched for professional hire businesses in the UK.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA) is the UK's leading trade association for the light trailer and towing industry, representing over 40 years of industry advocacy. It delivers membership subscriptions, the Quality Secured (Trusted Workshop) accreditation scheme, industry-approved training courses for towbar fitting and trailer servicing, and a consumer-facing online directory with quote request tools. The association also publishes the Trailer Safety Checks mobile app and runs consumer safety programmes such as UK Trailer Safety Week and the UK's first Free Trailer Safety Check scheme.

Product overview

The National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA) operates a platform-based offering anchored by its website hub (NTTA Hub), which serves as the primary digital portal for its directory, quote services, and member resources. The core products include an online Directory for finding Trusted Workshop service providers across categories (towbar fitting, trailer/caravan servicing, trailer hire, training providers), supported by two quote-request services (Towbar Fitting Quotes and Caravan/Trailer Servicing Quotes) that connect consumers with five nearest NTTA members. The NTTA provides a mobile App (Trailer Safety Checks App) for daily trailer inspections with photo/note recording. Supporting services include a Free Safety Checks Programme (UK's first for light trailers up to 3500kg), Trailer Hire Insurance (exclusive professional product), Training Courses (accredited courses in trailer servicing and towbar fitting with industry endorsements), and the Trusted Workshop (Quality Secured) accreditation scheme. Safety initiatives include the UK Trailer Safety Week campaign and Safe Towing Scheme. The association also offers Trailer Registration through TER.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quality Secured (QS) Scheme: Accreditation scheme for Trusted Workshops in trailer servicing and towbar fitting
• Trusted Workshop
• Safe Towing Scheme
• UK Towing Safety Alliance
• NTTA Trailer Safety Checks App
• UK Trailer Safety Week

Products and services

• Trusted Workshop (Quality Secured) Accreditation Industry accreditation scheme for towbar fitters, trailer service centres and associated businesses that certifies members meet defined standards for workmanship, safety and consumer service; recognized by over 1 million consumers via the NTTA Find-a-Tradesperson directory.
• NTTA Training Courses Industry-approved training programmes covering trailer servicing, towbar fitting and Safe Towing, endorsed by major OEMs and aligned with the BAGMA Training Standard for towbar fitting. Targeted at member businesses and individual technicians seeking certified qualifications.
• NTTA Trailer Safety Checks App Mobile application that lets users perform structured pre-use safety checks on trailers and caravans, supporting the Safe Towing Scheme and Free Safety Check programme. Available as a free download for consumer and trade users.
• Trailer Hire Insurance Exclusive insurance product arranged by NTTA specifically for the trailer hire sector, providing cover tailored to hire operations and related risks. Made available to qualifying member hire businesses.
• NTTA Online Directory Searchable consumer-facing directory of member businesses spanning over 30 categories (towbar fitters, service centres, hire firms, manufacturers, etc.) with integrated quote request functionality for towbar fitting and trailer servicing.
• Free Safety Check Programme UK's first industry-backed free safety check initiative for light trailers and caravans, delivered through the Trusted Workshop network and supported by the Trailer Safety Checks app. Aimed at consumer safety and driving traffic to member workshops.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free Safety Check programme covers all trailers up to 3500kg gross weight
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AL-KO Kober LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAL-KO serves as a training venue partner for NTTA's accredited courses in trailer servicing and towbar fitting. The company has endorsed NTTA's training programme, demonstrating industry confidence in the quality and standards of the training being delivered.
• KARRT LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKARRT Ltd is a training venue partner and endorser of NTTA training courses, providing facilities for professional training accessible across the UK.
• Tow Trust TowbarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTow Trust hosted the inaugural NTTA Towbar Installation Foundation Course and helped shape the programme with technical expertise, in collaboration with Right Connections. The company has endorsed NTTA's training courses.
• KNOTT Avonride LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKNOTT supports NTTA's commitment to developing industry skills through quality training and experience, reflecting its philosophy of 'Supporting your business through quality and experience'. Serves as training venue and course endorser.
• 3 Shires Trailers LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner3 Shires Trailers is a training venue partner making professional NTTA training more accessible across the UK.
• Right Connections UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the inaugural NTTA Towbar Installation Foundation Course alongside Tow Trust, contributing technical expertise to help shape the programme.
• Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTTA is actively involved in developing a servicing schedule for trailers in collaboration with DVSA. Many NTTA members contribute expertise to this project aimed at improving trailer safety standards and establishing clearer servicing guidance across the industry.
• TyreSafeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNTTA attended TyreSafe Conference in Birmingham with an exhibition stand and delivered a presentation outlining current projects, collaborative partnerships and future plans to improve safety within the trailer and towing industry.
• BARTA (British Animal Rescue and Trauma Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBARTA and NTTA have come together in collaboration to promote education and research for the equine and livestock trailer sector of the towing community. Both are members of the National Towing Working Group.
• The Horse TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTTA and BARTA met at Horse Trust site in Buckinghamshire to explore collaboration opportunities for promoting safer towing of animal trailers.
• National Towing Working Group (NTWG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChaired by Highways England and including representatives from across the towing community, NTWG launched the first-ever Safety Framework with the aim of reducing towing-related incidents across the GB road network.
• All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Trailer and Towing SafetycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPPG registered at House of Commons to raise awareness of trailer and towing safety. NTTA has a seat in Parliament through this group, chaired by Karin Smyth MP. Primary focus is to bring together parliamentarians, industry representatives and consumer groups.
• National Caravan Council (NCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCC serves as Secretariat for the APPG on Trailer and Towing Safety. NCC is an advocate of trailer safety education and awareness and the importance of regular professional servicing.
• Camping and Caravanning ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorses and recommends the NTTA's Quality Secured scheme to its members.
• The Caravan and Motorhome ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEndorses and recommends the NTTA's Quality Secured scheme to its over one million members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Trailer Industry Association (TIA): TIA is the US-based trade association for trailer manufacturers, dealers, and suppliers. Comparable in mission and structure to NTTA, but operates in a different geography (North America) and focuses on commercial trailer manufacturing rather than light trailers.
• European Caravan Federation (ECF): ECF is the European-level federation representing national caravan and motorhome industry associations across Europe. Comparable as a pan-European trailer/caravan industry body, but operates at a regional level above NTTA's UK scope.

Direct peers

• National Caravan Council (NCC): NCC is the UK trade association for the caravan industry and serves as Secretariat for the APPG on Trailer and Towing Safety alongside NTTA. Directly comparable as a UK non-profit industry body with shared regulatory engagement and consumer-facing accreditation.
• National Towing Working Group (NTWG): NTWG launched the first-ever towing Safety Framework and is chaired by Highways England with NTTA, BARTA, and other towing-industry organisations as members. Directly comparable in safety advocacy and policy collaboration.
• Driving Instructors Association (DIA): DIA is the UK's main professional association for driving instructors, providing accreditation, training, and certification. Closely comparable to NTTA's training and accreditation model, particularly around trailer towing instruction.
• Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI): IMI is the UK's professional body for the automotive sector, providing accreditation, training, and certification for motor industry professionals. Highly comparable to NTTA's Quality Secured scheme and training portfolio, though broader in scope.
• Road Haulage Association (RHA): RHA is the UK's premier trade association for road haulage and logistics, representing operators in the commercial vehicle ecosystem. Comparable in structure (UK trade association, membership-based, training and advocacy) and overlaps with NTTA in commercial vehicle and trailer interests.
• British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA): BVRLA is the UK trade body for vehicle rental, leasing, and fleet management. Comparable in structure and member-accreditation model, with overlap in fleet-related trailer and towbar training needs served by NTTA.

Broad incumbents

• Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT): SMMT is the UK's leading automotive industry trade body covering the full vehicle manufacturing and supply chain. Comparable in structure and advocacy role but operates at a broader industry level that includes NTTA's trailer and towing remit.

Others

• TyreSafe: TyreSafe is a UK not-for-profit road safety campaign focused on tyre and vehicle safety. Comparable as a UK road safety industry body and existing NTTA partner via TyreSafe Conference participation, though narrower in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nttauk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuBd5UtkV4dutZ-33x-uf5A
• Facebookfacebook.com/nttauk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-trailer-and-towing-association-ntta-
• Instagraminstagram.com/nttauk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Trailer and Towing Association (NTTA)