It’s not just fix cars, repeat.
Running a garage is often seen as a straightforward business: fix cars, keep customers happy, repeat. But behind the ramps and diagnostic tools lies a different kind of challenge – one that doesn’t always come with a manual.
See Full Episode On:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/w3R-TOji0D0?si=TrHKmQQA4pKovj_K
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/7faQLdN7wQQVFJFjNfSPPD?si=gmwbMzzjT9OOuUNDCkMchA
In this episode, Mark Webb from Parkside Garage and Garage Vitals joins the podcast to share what it’s really like to juggle diagnostics, staff, premises, and an entirely separate support business.
From IT to under the bonnet
Mark’s journey into the industry wasn’t a direct one. Although his dad founded Parkside Garage while he was still in junior school, Mark initially chose a different route – working in IT and networking.
But the shift towards electronic systems in cars changed everything. As ECUs became standard, Mark’s IT background became invaluable. By the early 2000s, he found himself pulled back into the family garage.
By 2008, he was all-in – taking on Bosch diagnostic training and diving deep into advanced vehicle diagnostics. What began as a way to support Parkside quickly turned into something bigger.
Specialising by accident
“We were doing so much Renault work back then, just because that was the car park. It wasn’t on purpose,” Mark laughs.
That accidental specialism led to investing in dealer-level tools and OEM software, setting the foundations for Garage Vitals – a business that would grow out of casual conversations at training sessions.
The rise of Garage Vitals
At first, it was just helping out – fixing Wi-Fi issues or giving advice on networking. But the calls kept coming.
“At the start it was just Wi-Fi issues. Then it became, ‘Can you help me set this up?’ Then it was, ‘Can you just do it for me?’”
Garage Vitals was born out of that demand – but not for beginners. Mark’s clients are seasoned diagnostic techs who just don’t want to spend their weekends updating dealer tools.
“They know how to use the tools. They just don’t want to waste half a day maintaining them.”
A new chapter for Parkside Garage
As Garage Vitals grew, so did Parkside. Mark shares the real story behind moving to a new site and building a brand-new workshop from scratch.
“We were renting, and the landlord passed away. We tried to buy it, but the price was ridiculous. That kicked off a whole new phase of the business.”
The move involved everything from ripping up floors to installing ten new bays and building a new Class 7 MOT bay – all while doing a double extension on his house at the same time.
Managing a growing team
Parkside now operates as a ten-bay workshop with eight technicians and four front-of-house staff. But managing that kind of setup brings its own challenges.
“There’s always that tension. Techs think there’s too many people in the office. But they wouldn’t want to do that job either.”
Balancing workflow, communication, and expectations across different parts of the team is an ongoing learning curve – one that doesn’t come up in most garage courses.
Diagnostics, SEMI, and dealer tools
Mark also shares his views on some of the hot topics in the trade:
- Remote diagnostics – where it’s heading, and where it’s overhyped
- SEMI registration – and why it’s more important than some realise
- Dealer tools – often brilliant, but not always relevant to independent workshops
“Sometimes the test plans are brilliant. But they’re written for three-year-old cars under warranty. That’s not what most of us are dealing with.”
Final thoughts
Whether it’s running cables through a workshop wall or figuring out how to scale a support business, Mark’s story will resonate with a lot of garage owners.
Because it’s not just about fixing cars. It’s about making decisions when there’s no clear right answer – and still getting the job done.
