The Blend Podcast

In the final countdown episode before The Blend 2026, we’re talking Artificial Intelligence for independent garages. Tim Benson of Oldfields Garage joins us to discuss it ahead of his conference session on the topic.

Tim unpacks how forward-thinking independents are already using accessible AI tools, with zero coding experience, to build pricing calculators, streamline estimates, and turn basic technician notes into clear, value-building customer explanations.

Before that though, we're setting the stage for Saturday with a few words of wisdom from some familiar community voices.

The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland.

👉 Learn more: https://www.theblend.events/

The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

If you’ve ever unboxed a brand-new dealer tool with little to no instructions on how to get it set up, you’ll know the frustration is real. But as vehicles become increasingly locked down, having genuine OEM access isn’t just an advantage anymore, it’s fast becoming essential.

In today’s episode we’re joined by Mark Webb, founder of Garage Vitals, to talk us through all-things OEM tooling ahead of his presentation at The Blend this weekend!

The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland.

👉 Learn more: https://www.theblend.events/

The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

In our very first in-person recording, borrowing the studio mics from our friends at the On the Ramp Podcast, host Mike Ruff sits down with Garage Hive Managing Director and the original visionary behind The Blend, Ray Dilsons.

AI is dominating industry headlines, but for progressive independent workshops, software is only as good as the measurable value it delivers to the bottom line. In this wide-ranging, candid conversation, Ray unpacks what practical automation actually looks like on the workshop floor today, why traditional dealership software models fall short, and how community-led development continues to change the game for independents.

Join us at The Blend 2026!

The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland.

👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/

The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

Today, we’re hearing from Gary Wood of Intelligent Auto in Gateshead, a two-time winner of Small Garage of the Year at The Blend, and this year, he’s aiming for the hat-trick.

Gary’s story is one many can relate to: spending 11 years as a mobile tech, tackling the diagnostic jobs nobody else wanted, before taking the leap during COVID to open his own garage workshop.

Ahead of his talk at The Blend 2026, Gary joins us to talk about a topic that isn't talked about enough in our trade: neurodiversity. After discovering his own neurodivergence four years ago following his son’s assessment, Gary started looking at his career, his management style, and his team through a completely new lens.

Join us at The Blend 2026!

The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland.

👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/

The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

MINI Repair Shop: Dealer standards, independent agility by The Blend Podcast

Scaling your independent garage from a couple of ramps to a double-digit team sounds like the ultimate growth milestone, but rapid expansion has a habit of exposing every single crack in your business. If you are still trying to hold onto the spanners while managing a growing headcount, you quickly find that the biggest bottleneck in the workshop is actually you.

In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff sits down with Paul Griffiths, owner of the highly successful Scottish independent specialist, Elite Land Rover. Paul charts his raw, unfiltered journey from operating out of a small shed to running a major ten-technician, eight-ramp facility. He pulls back the curtain on the intense operational friction, cash flow bottlenecks, and personal isolation that accompanied his transition away from the workbench.

Join us at The Blend 2026!

The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland.

👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/

The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

In our industry, men have traditionally been told to just 'get on with it' and that they certainly should not show weakness. But as we all know, today's workshops require a very different kind of leadership.

Today, we're joined by Edward Cockill of Uckfield Motor Services. We explore how embracing empathetic leadership and delegating management can transform both the culture and efficiency of an independent workshop. It also tackles pressing industry challenges like vehicle data access and overcoming the dangerous isolation often faced by garage owners.

Join us at The Blend 2026!

The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland.

👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/

The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

Are you running a garage business, or just a very stressful job?

In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff sits down with Barry Lawson of Lawson Autotech for a candid look at the "isolation trap" that many independent garage owners fall into. Barry reflects on the early years of his business, where he operated in a bubble, believing that constant struggle was just a "normal" part of the trade.

The turning point came when his accountant revealed a devastating reality: after a full year of hard work, the business had netted just £16,000, to be split between two partners. Realising he was earning less than he could at a local supermarket, Barry made the radical decision to drop the tools and start looking for answers beyond his workshop walls.

If you’ve ever felt like you can’t afford to step away from the workshop, this is the episode you need to hear. Barry’s story is a powerful testament to what happens when you stop being a mechanic and start being a business owner.

Join us at The Blend 2026!

The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland.

👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/

The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

This week’s episode of The Blend Podcast is a special one. Released just before The Blend 2025, it’s all about community, connection, and why this event means so much to independent garage owners across the UK and Ireland.

In this heartfelt episode, we hear from garage owners, sponsors, and members of the wider automotive community reflecting on what The Blend represents: support, shared experience, and the power of coming together in an industry that can sometimes feel isolating.

From postponed hikes and charity runs for Ben, to powerful stories of mental health, loss, and resilience, this episode captures the real people behind the garages. You’ll also hear from partners like The Race Group, talking about what’s in store at The Blend this year, from breakout sessions and giveaways to panels tackling recruitment and training challenges head-on.

Whether you’re attending The Blend for the first time or you’ve been part of the community for years, this episode will remind you why “together we are stronger.”

The Blend Podcast is produced by Autotech Communications.

If you’ve ever thought about taking on fleet work but aren’t quite sure where to start, or maybe you’re already doing it and want to take it further, then Tim Guidotti’s session at The Blend later this month is one you won’t want to miss.

Tim’s spent 25 years building one of the UK’s most successful independent fleet operations, and he’s now helping other garages do the same through his training and community platform, The Fleet Guy.

Ahead of his talk at The Blend, Tim joins host Mike Ruff to get us in the mood.

The Blend Podcast is produced by Autotech Communications.