Author: Reuben Yeatman

Inside Kerr’s Tyres: How a Northern Irish Garage Group Is Redefining the Independent Automotive Trade When most people think of independent garages, they imagine small local workshops with a few ramps, a kettle on the go, and a steady stream of loyal customers.But in Northern Ireland, one business is rewriting that picture. Kerr’s Tyres, a 27-site operation that’s become one of the most ambitious and fast-growing independent garage networks in the UK and Ireland. In this episode of Your Garage, we travelled to Northern Ireland to meet the Kerr’s team, explore their superstores, and speak with founder Norman Kerr about the company’s journey…

From Family Garage to Powerhouse: The D&D Autos Story The D&D Autos Story: From Family Garage to Powerhouse When you think of successful family businesses in the automotive trade, D&D Autos in Ashford is a shining example. What started in 1993 as a small workshop founded by Matthew Pestridge’s dad has grown into an 11,000 square foot operation, employing 12 technicians, apprentices, and a strong front-of-house team. Family at the Core Unlike many family-run ventures where tensions run high, D&D Autos thrives on teamwork between siblings Matthew, Richard, and Lorraine. Each brings their own strengths — from workshop control to…

Tina Drayson Returns The data every garage owner must face This episode of On the Ramp with Tina Drayson is all about numbers. Not vanity numbers. Not spreadsheets for show. Real data that tells you if the business is earning or sliding backwards. Why data matters in plain terms Garages live and die on time sold and money collected. Without data you are guessing. You may think the team is busy but the numbers will show whether that busyness is turning into profit. Data shines a light on leaks. It shows where the hours go missing. It tells you if…

Industry Insight On Fleet Why Fleet Matters More Than You Think Alex opens with thanks. A simple exchange, but one that sets the tone: garages are waking up to the fact that fleet isn’t just another bolt-on. It’s becoming a pillar. Tim, known to most as the Fleet Guy, has been pushing this message for years. And now, the industry is catching on. From “Stay Away” to “Full Steam Ahead” Not long ago, Alex himself was warning people off fleet and greenfield sites. Too much risk, too many unknowns. Yet here he is admitting he’s had to eat his own words.…

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 Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-mark-turned-a-family-garage-into-a/id1742771842?i=1000724320883 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…

In this latest episode of Your Garage, Alex and Nathan head to Nottingham and Mansfield with the Lindleys team as they take on two very different expansion projects. From a high-street acquisition years in the making to the surprise opportunity of a former Volvo dealership, this episode shines a light on the real challenges of scaling an independent garage group. The Long Road to Acquisition The first stop is a high-street site in Nottingham — a deal that nearly didn’t happen. After six or seven years of waiting, negotiations finally opened up again. What followed was a long, complicated process…

In this episode of the On The Ramp podcast, Leo sits down with Quentin from GiPA UK to explore a side of the industry most garages overlook — tyres. But this isn’t a conversation about upselling or offers. It’s about missed opportunities, changing customer behaviour, and what electrification really means for your workshop. See Full Episode On: YouTube – https://youtu.be/ZT1SixI2rN4 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/4VAz8QUPtaVuooZxU3SWEm?si=Hv1DSX_rS0ObZX6eo_uuKQ Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-problems-with-tyres/id1742771842?i=1000722032866 The 20% Blind Spot Quentin brings the data – and it’s eye-opening. According to GiPA’s research, around 20% of all workshop visits are prompted by tyres. That’s not just people needing new rubber -…

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.…