Professional Motor Mechanic

When it comes to car lovers, there are two ends of the spectrum. At one end are the classic car lovers – they love proper vintage motors, authenticity and heritage; at the other, the EV crew – nothing is more blissful to these people than silently gliding around town looking for charge points. One company is making it its mission to bring these two factions together, dragging classic cars into the...

Garage Hive's Garage Industry Trends data platform recently collected and released a load of data from all the MOTs done in the UK in 2021 so we invited Alex Lindley down to our studio just after the data was released to the industry to find out more. Featured:  Alex Lindley, Garage Hive

You might imagine that your workshop has little in common with the Make Ready Centres across the country which keep the NHS’s fleet of vehicles up and running, ready to respond to emergencies at any moment. Well, as we discovered when we visited the South East Coast Ambulance Service in Banstead, many of the pressures and challenges faced by the independent sector are also affecting the NHS. ...

If you’re concerned about the latest MOT proposals from the government, you need to listen to the latest episode of the PMM Podcast.   Cars have never been so advanced, with ADAS and autonomous driving increasingly taking care of road safety and modern engines maximising emissions efficiency. What’s more, cars communicate with their drivers in ways they have never done before.  So,...

Have recent oil shortages really plunged the automotive aftermarket into the dark days of the 1970s (bell bottom overalls, anyone?), or is there more to be optimistic about as the true worth of engine oil is finally acknowledged? This month, the PMM podcast takes you on a journey to find out all about oil – the secret ingredient making cars more efficient than ever. In the episode, Mike Bewsey, Ch...

We've been podcasting for 7 months now! And as a special, festive gift to you, we've put together some of our best bits from the podcast in 2022. Kieran and Freya reminisce over garage visits, conversations with industry experts, mechanics and those who are the future of the industry. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at PMM. We'll be back in February with a brand new episode.

What if the aftermarket’s leading figures sat down to discuss the impact the government’s push towards electrification could have on the independent aftermarket? Now there’s an idea.  This episode we visit the aftermarket trade show Mechanex, where just that happened. We got five of the UK’s most well-known commentators on stage to share their thoughts and expertise on where mobility could, a...

The average new car has over 100 sensors, 100 electrical components and as many as 1400 semi conductor chips. Modern cars provide a level of comfort, security and efficiency that previous car makers could only have dreamed of. The catch? Each of these components is one more thing which can fail, and when they do, finding out where the issue is, what’s failed and why can be a truly herculean task....

Are cybersecurity concerns being used to unfairly squeeze out the independent aftermarket from competing against franchised dealers?   This episode we are looking at how vehicle manufacturers are restricting access to vehicle data and what effect that is having on workshops. Professional Motor Mechanic editor Kieran Nee visits Neville Smith at his workshop, Nev’ll Fix It , along with Nei...

As more and more Local Councils receive funding to deliver electric charge points across their boroughs, should garages be focusing on electrification? This episode we focus on electrification and the future of mobility. Professional Motor Mechanic Editor Kieran Nee speaks to Andy Brooke – a leader in vehicle diagnostic tools and automotive training – who’s here to share his thoughts on electric v...

Recruiting car technicians is proving difficult for UK garages. School leavers just aren't choosing it as a career option. At the same time, mechanics are retiring and EU citizens are leaving. So what can garage owners do to secure new recruits? In this episode Kieran Nee - editor of Professional Motor Mechanic Magazine - speaks to automotive apprentices and graduates, to find out why young people...

This episode looks at the importance of pricing jobs right and offers some top tips for Garage workshops. Pricing jobs is something garages often struggle with. With mounting pressure from customers to lower car repair costs, garages are often left wondering, what is the right amount? We speak with two garages in Walthamstow about how they price jobs as well as Jon Douglass, Membership Services Ma...

Automotive supply chains have been thoroughly disrupted by international events over the last two years. For the UK's independent garages, this has led to delays for parts and price increases. In the first episode of The Professional Motor Mechanic Podcast (PMM), the PMM team speak with three local garages about the supply chain challenges they’re facing and how it affects their workshop. The team...