Author: Reuben Yeatman

In this episode, we finally catch up with Kevin Pearce from Cedar Garage, a business that has quietly evolved into one of the UK’s most exciting and forward-thinking garage groups. Kevin and his business partner Matt started small: a two-bay workshop in Worthing with no car park, no room, and very few resources. But what they did have was a shared background, deep trust, and an unmatched drive to keep pushing. From humble beginnings as Ford apprentices, they navigated redundancies, set out as mobile mechanics, and gradually built Cedar into a high-performing, multi-site operation. YouTube – https://youtu.be/lDAq1KXOMHE Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/60nsrZuaPJdd0h4iwr0NTZ?si=c1c540d505794e98…

Some garage stories start with business plans and funding. Louise Baker’s started in a car park with a £400 toolkit, a kid in the back of the van, and no qualifications. We sat down with Louise on the latest episode of On The Ramp to hear how she went from burnout at Tesco to building Womanic — a fully booked, solo-run garage brand that’s changing how people see women in the trade. YouTube – https://youtu.be/5db9larFeUU?si=TaUdxYu5J_BYyvIR Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3Q9nKOioJdjs0r6toUjolQ?si=09924523a1cd43dc Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/%C2%A3500-and-a-dream-building-a-garage-brand-from-nothing/id1742771842?i=1000715675623 From Shelf Stacker to Spanners After years of stress, night shifts, and anxiety, Louise found herself completely out of the motor…

In a recent episode of the On The Ramp podcast, the team sat down with Chay from Fife Autotech, a Volkswagen/Audi specialist garage based in Scotland. Chay’s story is one of rapid growth, relentless drive, and smart decisions — turning a brand new business into a £1M+ operation in just three years. Starting as a dealership technician, Chay’s journey to garage owner wasn’t a straight line. It was full of setbacks, scrappy restarts, and calculated risks — but ultimately driven by a deep focus on diagnostics, a commitment to high standards, and a powerful network of support from others in the trade.…

In a recent episode of the On The Ramp podcast, the team sat down with Lee Schofield, founder of One Funding, to explore the often misunderstood world of business finance — and more specifically, how independent garages can make informed decisions when it comes to funding growth and investment. Lee brings almost 20 years of experience in asset finance, having worked closely with workshop and body shop businesses throughout his career. His new venture, One Funding, was established with the goal of bringing transparency and clarity to the finance process, an area many garage owners find confusing or even mistrust.…

Cathal didn’t come up through a main dealer or a college course. He started in hospitality, moved into van sales, and taught himself diagnostics the long way — by doing the work and figuring it out as he went. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to build something from scratch, why he moved from mobile to workshop, and how he’s carved out a business focused on proper diagnostics, not guesswork. YouTube – https://youtu.be/iil6wCsQIho?si=iWN-a5sVNq8bajHz Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/2FxCmyGiqC8aJNagEE6Z8l?si=ed38a45e970b4248 Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/on-the-ramp-the-independent-automotive-garage/id1742771842?i=1000709526829 From hospitality to home ramps Cathal didn’t follow a traditional route into the trade. He started in hospitality, working in…

In this special anniversary episode, Alex, Leo and Nathan take a step back to reflect on the last 12 months. What started as a podcast between three garage owners has become a regular fixture for many in the trade. Episode 26 is a raw look at what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what comes next. YouTube – https://youtu.be/GcDv9RvTCmQ?si=CRx6VbbfxGhnwGe1 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HpATmIsGJGzWZahP7kGN4?si=tO5-YicZQA6wULcponmqBw Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/on-the-ramp-the-independent-automotive-garage/id1742771842?i=1000706916577 Alex – A turning point at Lindleys Alex opens up about a difficult but defining decision: closing Lindleys’ vehicle sales operation. It was no longer sustainable, and shutting it down created space to focus on fleet — something that’s already…

In this latest episode of Your Garage, Alex and Nathan return to Birmingham to visit Auto Works HQ, a business that’s making waves both in the workshop and online. Run by Andy Wells and his wife Stacey, the garage has become a model for efficient space use, smart operations, and modern marketing—all packed into a modest 3,000 square feet. Built from the Ground Up The journey began in 2019 when Andy Wells took on an empty unit and transformed it into a fully operational garage within just six weeks—completing the groundworks himself with the help of a builder. Since then,…

In our latest episode of On The Ramp, we were joined by Mark Field, Chief Executive of the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF). What started as a chat about parts tariffs quickly turned into a wider, honest look at the future of independent garages—and why now is the time to reframe our value, push standards, and demand our place at the table. YouTube – https://youtu.be/JqXHc9l53VQ?si=ltpphik98JvfbK_s Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/6tZM0ZZghVWfutvTMUFXvg?si=b1b8d569ca644dc3 Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/on-the-ramp-the-independent-automotive-garage/id1742771842?i=1000703948866 “Not Just a Parts Game Anymore” Mark didn’t grow up in the trade. He didn’t come from a technical background or wrench in hand. But what he did have…

In the ever-evolving world of independent garages, running a successful business isn’t just about fixing cars—it’s about strategy, people management, and making the right decisions at the right time. In a recent conversation with Jay Wheatley, business consultant and founder of Absolutely Automotive, we explored the key lessons that garage owners need to thrive in today’s competitive market. YouTube – https://youtu.be/26RXU90LiPE?si=zjSRmuPZJE66kZeX Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/6HuiTyXg9S4qLWIfzzlgbx?si=FxM2-NogQPSUrYzd-K16gQ Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/24-extracting-yourself-from-your-garage-how-to-step/id1742771842?i=1000702146060 The Shift from Technician to Business Owner Many garage owners start their journey as technicians, passionate about working on cars. But running a business requires a completely different skill set. One of the…

Running a successful family business in the automotive industry isn’t just about fixing cars—it’s about adapting to change and finding new ways to deliver value. In a recent conversation, Matt Cleevely, the owner of Cleevely Motors, shared valuable insights into how his business has grown and evolved over the years. YouTube – https://youtu.be/oqnObBMhaIg?si=d2yWNyetAl2drdSf Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/43JOrIRce5tc3i4lMzlXzY?si=8dRj00KeQPGMGQINJa458g Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/on-the-ramp-the-independent-automotive-garage/id1742771842?i=1000700218350 A Legacy Built on Trust and Quality Cleevely Motors began as a traditional garage, but under Matt’s ownership, it has transformed into a modern operation, seamlessly blending the personal touch of a family business with the efficiency of a well-run company.…