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 te...

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...

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 wid...

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...

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 Podca...

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 i...

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...

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 experienc...

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 a...

In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff welcomes on Tim Benson of Oldfields Garage in Herefordshire, a multi-award-winning independent garage and respected voice in the industry. Together, they explore the often-overlooked power of awards: not just as shiny trophies, but as tools to benchmark performance, motivate teams, attract customers, and raise your business profile locally and n...

In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff sits down with returning guest Dean Lomas to dive deep into the 'rollercoaster' of running, and rapidly expanding, an independent garage business. It comes ahead of his return as a speaker at at The Blend conference and networking in Birmingham on Saturday 18th October. Dean offers practical advice for garage owners considering expansion, includ...

As independent garage owners look ahead to The Blend conference this October, Emma Lindley of Lindleys Autocentres features in the latest episode of The Blend Podcast to discuss how front-of-house teams can transform a business from the inside out. A specialist in service adviser development, Emma has taken nervous apprentices and turned them into confident team leaders. In the episode, she explor...

As excitement builds for The Blend 2025, we’re pleased to welcome on a group of inspiring women who are leading the way. We're joined by Tina Drayson of CCM Garages, Kirsty Watson from Autocentre, Claire Cleevely of Cleevely Group, Samantha Lomas of DC Lomas, and Diana Whetton of PW Auto Repairs, ahead of their panel discussion 'Partners, Family & Business: The Balancing Act', live on stage at The...

In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff is joined by fellow Blend Awards judges Hayley Pells, Policy and Public Affairs Lead at the IMI, and Andy Crook of Atomic Success. Together, they lift the lid on the judging process behind The Blend Awards, an industry celebration that recognises the outstanding achievements of independent garages across the UK and Ireland. We cover the importan...

In this episode of The Blend Podcast, we’re diving into the MOT slowdown and how, five years on, the COVID ‘hangover’ is still hitting independent garages. And it might be around for longer than you think. We’re joined by Cartopia CEO and former TV presenter Nikki Cowan for a deep dive into the ongoing challenges facing the trade, from MOT patterns to shifting customer behaviour and the pressure t...

With National Insurance and apprentice pay increases coming in April, it’s a time when many garage owners will be thinking about how to best manage these changes while keeping their teams motivated and their businesses profitable. In this episode, we’re joined by Jennifer Webb of HR Vitals, who brings a wealth of experience in helping garages navigate these challenges. Jen shares practical advice...

In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff welcomes some members of the Garage Hive team to dive into some truly game-changing features that are revolutionising independent garage businesses. Join Garage Hive's Operations Manager Dawn Metcalfe, Technical Manager Rhys Hill, and Head of Training Tom Langridge as they unpack the latest updates to the community-led Garage Hive management sys...

Diagnostic legend and a industry forward-thinker, James Dillon joins us for the final episode of the year to get into a topic that genuinely has the potential to transform how workshops operate and approach vehicle repairs. Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world around us in ways that we’re only just beginning to understand. AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data in real-time and unc...

Our latest guest is Dave Massey. He's a man whose journey has taken him from his family’s roots in the trade, to running a booming business, and facing some of the toughest mental challenges along the way. It’s an incredible story of resilience, personal growth, and finding balance in a world where work, family, and personal wellbeing can often feel at odds. The Blend takes place on Saturday 28th...

Our latest guest has faced his share of challenges, has made some bold decisions, and differentiated his business in ways that have set him apart from the local competition. Today, he's not just running a garage. He’s leading a team, shaping a brand, and preparing to take the stage as a speaker at The Blend in Birmingham later this month. Chay Blythe of Fife AutoTech, voted as the 'Community’s Gar...

Ahead of her debut as a speaker at The Blend in September, Louise Baker joins us on the podcast to share her passionate mission to nurture the next generation of technicians. Join us as we delve into her journey from investing an initial £500 into the founding of Womanic, the challenges she has faced, and the mentors who have supported her along the way. The Blend takes place on Saturday 28th Sept...

We’re all familiar with customer reviews, but have you ever considered reviewing your customers? There's a compelling argument for why internally assessing your customers could be beneficial for your business and everyone involved in it. Talking about this very subject at The Blend in September, Michael Shaikley shares his insights on how customer profiling has transformed his business operations,...

In 2023 nearly 98 per cent of independent garage revenue came from ICE vehicles, according to Garage Industry Trends data, and with nearly two thirds of this work coming from diesel, a decline in diesel could mean a significant loss for workshops. Sharing some insight ahead of his talk at The Blend 2024, Andy Crook joins us to offer his thoughts on what you should be doing to replace that diesel w...

We’re revisiting the topic of EVs this month. We welcome back Matt Cleevely of Cleevely EV to challenge him with some of the hard-hitting arguments on why the transition to EVs might not be as big as we once thought - or maybe they will? Let’s join Matt from his very busy workshop in Cheltenham to try and figure out what it all means for independent garages. The Blend takes place on Saturday 28th...