On The Ramp - The Independent Automotive Garage Owners Podcast.

Most garage businesses start broad.General repairs.

General customers. General positioning.

But over time, staying general can make growth harder, not easier.In this episode, we explore the journey from a traditional town-centre garage to a specialist Land Rover business and the structural decisions that built long-term resilience along the way.

We cover:

- Transitioning from petrol station to full garage operation

- The risk of moving from a high street location to a commercial unit

- Why mastering internal workflow comes before expansion- How specialisation strengthens pricing confidence and authority

- The importance of perception in building value

- This is not about chasing trends. It is about deliberate evolution.

- If you are thinking about resilience, repositioning, or future

-proofing your garage, this episode is for you.

This episode is supported by Castrol and The Race Group.

To learn more about Castrol and how they support independent garages,

visit:https://www.castrol.com

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:10 - The Origins of the Business

6:15 - From Petrol Station to Garage

12:40 - The Risk of Leaving the High Street

18:20 - Moving to a Commercial Unit

24:30 - Building Systems Before Expansion

30:15 - Controlling Parts and Workflow

36:40 - The Shift Toward Specialisation

44:10 - Becoming a Land Rover Specialist

52:30 - Perception and Premium Positioning

1:01:20 - Lessons in Building Resilience

1:08:45 - Final Thoughts

Running a garage does not come with a manual.

In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Petty, co owner of JP Petty Motors, to talk honestly about what it is really like to learn the motor trade while already carrying the responsibility of running a business.

Sarah did not come from a technical background. She learned on the job, asked questions, made mistakes and slowly built confidence in an industry that does not always make space for uncertainty. We talk about running a family garage, the pressure that follows you home, making difficult pricing decisions, learning when to ask for help, and stepping out of the shadows to become a visible leader.

This conversation will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like they were figuring it out as they went along.

Timestamps

2:00 – Coming into the garage with no technical background

5:10 – Learning on the job and early challenges

8:00 – Moving into a service advisor role

11:00 – Balancing family life and the business

14:00 – Covid and the pressure on the garage

17:30 – The moment everything had to change

20:00 – Learning to ask questions and not guess

23:00 – Knowing what you do not know

26:00 – Stepping out of the shadows

29:30 – Confidence and leadership in the garage

32:30 – Putting yourself out there in the industry

35:00 – Discovering the wider automotive community

38:30 – Information overload and staying grounded

41:30 – Running a family business together

45:00 – Supporting staff and building trust

48:30 – Growth pricing and difficult decisions

52:00 – Vehicle health checks and changing processes

56:00 – Capacity pressure and future thinking

1:00:00 – Final reflections on learning as you go

This episode is supported by Castrol and The Race Group.Visit Castrol here: ⁠https://www.castrol.com⁠

In this episode of On The Ramp, Jamie shares an honest account of his journey through the motor trade.From starting out in a small local garage and working through dealerships and independents, to running his own business for nearly a decade, this conversation looks at what life is really like behind the scenes.

Jamie talks openly about going mobile with very little planning, the pressure of keeping work coming in, and the reality of long hours with little reward.

The episode explores common challenges many garage owners face, including undercharging, fear of employing staff, working without a long term plan, and the isolation that can come with running a one man business.

The discussion also covers the difficult decision to close a garage, the emotional impact of locking the doors for the last time, and the relief that can come from stepping away.

From there, the conversation moves into growth, learning diagnostics properly, working alongside stronger operators, and finding a healthier balance between work, life, and ambition.

This episode will resonate with anyone in the automotive industry who has run a garage, is thinking about starting one, or is questioning what success in this trade really looks like beyond just being busy.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group.

To learn more about Castrol Service, visit:

https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/services/castrol-service.html

Timestamps:

01:00 - Getting into the motor trade

05:30 - Apprenticeships and early mistakes

06:45 - Leaving the dealer and chasing money

07:50 - Going mobile and starting alone

09:10 - Running a business with no plan

11:00 - Winter work and survival mode

11:40 - First workshop and early growth

14:00 - Working month to month

15:45 - The biggest mistake looking back

19:00 - Long hours and family pressure

25:00 - Realising something had to change

29:30 - Deciding to close the business

36:30 - Learning again and rediscovering the trade

56:30 - Finding balance and enjoying the work

Modern diagnostics demand far more than plugging in a tool and changing parts. In this episode of On The Ramp, we talk about what working on today’s vehicles really requires from independent garages.

The conversation covers process, responsibility and decision making in a world of complex systems, EVs and ADAS. We discuss why fault codes are only the starting point, why structure and method matter, and what happens when diagnostics is rushed or handled without the right understanding.

This episode is for garage owners and senior technicians who want to work safely, professionally and sustainably as vehicles continue to evolve.

Timestamps:

02:12 – Steve’s background and how diagnostics has changed

06:38 – Why fault codes are only the starting point

11:04 – Moving from parts fitting to proper diagnostic process

18:27 – Teaching technicians how to think, not just test

26:06 – Why process matters more than tools

31:42 – Charging properly for diagnostics and assessment time

38:18 – Intermittent faults and managing customer expectations

44:02 – EVs, ADAS and the responsibility garages now carry

49:28 – Safety risks and why calibration matters

56:08 – Dealer vs independent diagnostics explained

01:02:35 – The future of diagnostics and access to vehicle data

01:08:12 – Burnout, pressure and working smarter

01:15:48 – Raising standards without losing your sanity

01:22:26 – Final thoughts on professionalism in the trade

This episode is proudly sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group.

Find out more below:

Castrol: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.html

The Race Group: https://www.facebook.com/TheRaceGroup/?locale=en_GB

We sat down with Jennifer Webb from HR Vitals to break down the HR essentials every garage owner needs to understand.

From contracts and onboarding to conflict, conduct and difficult conversations, Jen explains the practical steps that protect your people and your business.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

- The most common HR mistakes garages make

- What every employee contract should include

- How to handle staff issues fairly and legally

- Why documentation matters more than you think

- The right way to approach sickness, conduct and capability

- How good HR creates a stronger, safer and more stable workplace

- If you employ people in the automotive industry, this is a must-watch conversation.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why HR matters more than most garage owners realise

02:17 – What HR Vitals actually does for the automotive industry

04:22 – The most common HR problems inside independent garages

07:25 – Quick wins for reducing pressure on owners and teams

1:36 – Handling issues early and avoiding bigger problems later

15:03 – Conduct and capability explained in clear terms

20:18 – Values, behaviour and setting the right expectations

27:03 – What workplace culture really looks like inside a workshop

33:57 – Avoiding confrontation and how it impacts team behaviour

38:51 – Scoring culture and understanding who fits the business

43:19 – Why technicians lose motivation and direction

49:26 – How HR strengthens retention and protects your business

57:10 – Why your mindset affects how you manage people

01:12:00 – How onboarding shapes the first months of employment

01:23:10 – Recruiting the right people and building a stable team

This episode is proudly sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group.

Find out more below:

Castrol: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.html

The Race Group: https://www.facebook.com/TheRaceGroup/?locale=en_GB

This week, we sit down with Ellen Plumer from Ben Charity, the organisation supporting everyone in the automotive industry.

We talk openly about mental health, financial struggles, and the pressure of running or working in a garage. From business owners to technicians and suppliers, Ben offers free, confidential support when life gets tough.Listen to find out:- How Ben helps anyone in the trade

- Why awareness can save lives

- The shocking truth: two people in the automotive industry die by suicide every week

- What garage owners can do to support their teams

- How you can use Ben’s services for free

Visit ben.org.uk to learn more or get help today.

On The Ramp is proudly sponsored by Castrol, supporting garages that keep Britain moving with trusted oils, lubricants and technology that powers performance every day.

🔗 Learn more about Castrol Service: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.html

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome and why this episode matters

02:13 - What is Ben Charity and who do they support?

06:27 - The unseen struggles in the trade

08:42 - How Ben helps garage owners and their teams

12:36 - Mental health, money, and business stress

16:18 - The stats every garage owner should hear

20:45 - The real cost of not looking after yourself or your staff

25:22 - Coaching and counselling… what’s the difference?

32:09 - Letting people help you

40:37 - How every garage can spread the word about Ben

55:18 - Why awareness keeps the industry strong

From sweeping floors to running 36 MOTs a day...

We sit down with Matthew Pestridge of D&D Autos to talk family business, garage growth, diagnostics, and why the trade’s future looks brighter than ever.

This episode is sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group. To learn more about Castrol Service, please visit: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.html

00:00 – Meet Matthew from D&D Autos Alex and Nathan welcome Matthew Pestridge and introduce his family-run garage in Ashford.

01:00 – How It All Started. The story of how Matt’s dad founded D&D Autos back in 1993.

04:00 – Growing Up in the Garage. Matthew shares early memories, family roles, and what made him join the trade.

07:00 – From Apprenticeship to Ownership. How Matthew learned the ropes, from college days to running the business.

10:00 – Building a Bigger Workshop. The move to an 11,000 sq ft site during the 2008 crash — and surviving it.

17:00 – Training, Tech & Diagnostics. Why D&D Autos invest heavily in upskilling, tools, and ADAS calibration.

25:00 – Running a Family Business. How three siblings keep a large, busy garage running without fallouts.

31:00 – Recruiting & Retaining Techs. Matthew's take on hiring, training, and keeping good people in the trade.

45:00 – Plans for Expansion. Looking ahead to a second site and growing the D&D Autos brand.

58:00 – Lessons for Garage Owners. Matthew's advice on growth, teamwork, and staying hands-on with the trade.

Tina Drayson returns to On the Ramp to talk about the data every garage owner must track. From workshop efficiency and labour recovery to front of house sales and cash flow, this episode strips it back to the numbers that make or break your business.

If you have ever wondered why your team is busy but the bank balance is not, this is the one to listen to.

Powered by Castrol and The Blend.

Alex and Nathan are joined by Tim Guidotti (The Fleet Guy) to talk about the rise of fleet work, the importance of building relationships with fleet managers, and how garages can adapt to the industry shift away from private vehicle ownership.

We also ask the question - why should a busy garage be concerned about fleet work today?

Tim also shares details about upcoming Fleet Guy training, Q&A webinars ⁠https://thefleetguy.co.uk⁠ , and his session at The Blend. https://www.theblend.events

This episode of On The Ramp is proudly sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group.

👉 Learn more about Castrol Service: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/services/castrol-service.html

From family garage beginnings to building Garage Vitals, Mark shares how diagnostics, OEM tools, and dealer access shaped his journey — and why even top independent garages often need support.

We cover the rise of remote diagnostics, the hidden time drain of OEM software, and what SERMI accreditation and vehicle security codes mean for the future of independent garages.

👉 Sign up for SERMI: https://rmisc.co.uk/sermi-expression-of-interest/
👉 Access vehicle security codes: http://www.autosecuritycodes.com

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