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Combining a social event, technology updates, business advice, a strong focus on wellbeing, good food and a touch of nudity, Rob Marshall gives a big thumbs-up to Garage Hive's fifth annual conference and networking day.
What is the similarity between The Blend and Alton Towers? A day is insufficient to see everything. Indeed, there was so much going on that each visitor had to prioritise the issues that affected them the most. This was not easy, considering the variety on offer.
Who was there?
EV doyen, Matt Cleevely, built on last year's exchange about electrification, by updating us on what his business, Cleevely EV, has learnt within the last year as it expands. He shared information about how garages can make a profit from BEV repairs, while detailing the tasks that they would most likely encounter.
Matt Robinson (LKQ Euro Car Parts) continued the theme and explored new revenue streams, while explaining how workshops can capitalise on technological advances to ensure that they remain future-fit.
Representing Castrol and The Race Group, Dan Bridges and Dave Roberts continued the technical premise, by explaining why correct OEM-approved oil is so important. They also detailed the challenges of both DPFs and wet belts and how using the right oil is relevant to their longevity.
Representing the challenges faced by garage managers, Jennifer Webb, from the Cornwall-based HR
Vitals, provided valuable staff-management tips that improve job satisfaction, staff retention and workshop productivity. This topic was visited also by Matt Jeffreys (St John’s Garage and RPM Malvern), who detailed the complexities of acquiring an existing garage, including staff retention challenges.
Other garage owners put aside egos and shared their personal and professional journeys with surprising frankness. Dean Lomas (DC Lomas) detailed how he transformed his life, from tackling a drug and alcohol addiction, to establishing a successful business. 'Womanic', Louise Baker, continued her inspirational tale of passion and determination to transform battles into success. Chay Blyth (Fife AutoTech) recalled how he opened a garage during the pandemic years and explained how he changed his career from sole trader to employing nine staff within three years. Building on Al Preston's talk (from GSF Car Parts) about leveraging digital marketing beyond websites, Nathan Taylor (Walsall Wood Tyre & Service) regaled how he utilised social media to help his business turn over £2 million from a single site. Michael Shaikly (Shaikly Motor Company) highlighted how he boosted profits with ‘customer profiling’. Linked to this theme, Paul Griffiths, from Elite Land Rover, pondered the pros and cons of business scaling.
On the main stage...
Several talks proved especially popular. Castrol's Kirstie Foster provided a fascinating talk on how workshops could make their businesses more inclusive for female customers, although several attendees felt that her message was blunted, by focussing solely on one gender, when her points were relevant to everybody.
John Batten (Auto IQ) went overtime, telling delegates how they can succeed in the 'Game of Garage'. His enthusiastic and motivational discourse included advice to garage owners about the importance of personal and business strategies. This included technicians being limited not by their skillset but by their worth to the business, which John valued as £250,000 of gross profit. Controversially, he advocated employing the 'right kind' of technicians and recompensing them accordingly, providing they could hit the gross profit goals. John also highlighted the value of front-of-house advisors as vital, because they drive sales in a non-pressure way and highlight your business's value directly to the customer. After explaining how to get the right team, John explained how to get the best customers by using appropriate marketing channels and advocating that every £1 spent in this area should generate £10 gross profit.
One would have expected Andy Crook's talk, on the implication of declining new diesel car sales, to be
an insistence that the aftermarket embrace BEVs immediately. This was not the case. By applying a healthy dollop of scepticism to official figures, the founder of Atomic Success also highlighted potentially misleading headlines that have led many readers to believe that the immediate future is all-electric. By delving deeply into the statistics, Crook highlighted that PHEVs are the fastest-growing motorcar sector, not BEVs. Despite this, he advises that it is easier to predict the future but forecasting timescales is less straightforward. We know that there will be fewer diesel cars on the roads but it is unclear when this trend will filter to independent workshops. Andy also questioned if main dealers really hold an advantage and made reasonable, but not gloomy, predictions that a recession is around the corner. The question is how deep it will be.
As usual, James Dillion (Technical Topics) also did not disappoint, with his exploration of Artificial Intelligence. Despite admitting to being a 'Sceptical Bastard,' JD is developing an AI software with Manchester University that will launch next year. After tracing AI's history from 1979 to now, Dillion explained how AI works and its current limitations. He highlighted that AI will change everything but 'how' it will do so remains the ultimate unknown question. Crucially, James explained how garages can use current AI tools to their advantage, including summarising complex documents, be they technical to help with your diagnostics, or legal.
Blending work and play...
It would be easy to forget that getting together is The Blend's major objective. In addition to talks, aftermarket professionals had plenty of opportunities to network not only with each other but also with suppliers. These included Castrol and The Race Group, GSF Car Parts, LKQ Euro Car Parts, Pichler Tools, Parts Link 24, Pagid, Garage Services Online, Micheldever, 1Tec Auto Hub, Diagnostic Connections, Autotech Group, Auto IQ, Autogem and DC Lubricants. The Speed Networking session, hosted by Katie Haycock from Forge Garage, was especially popular.
The evening event comprised an emotional speech by David Massey (ADS Automotive) on the importance of mental health, which underscored the relevance of BEN, for whom the event raised £12,891.00, bringing the total raised by The Blend community to £15,000.00. Following an opulent three-course dinner, entertainments followed, with awards and a charity auction, to round off a very successful fifth year.
Subsequently, Ray Dilsons, Event Director, thanked the 400 attendees and sponsors. Plans for next year are confirmed, with The Blend 2025 returning to Birmingham’s Eastside Rooms on October 18th, 2025. For more information on The Blend and to register interest, visit: www.theblend.events
Award Winners
Garage of the Year – Multi-location garages
Sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group
Shaikly Motor Company
Garage of the Year Award – garages with 1 - 4 staff:
Sponsored by Micheldever Tyre Services
Intelligent Auto
Garage of the Year Award – garages with 5+ staff:
Sponsored by LKQ Euro Car Parts Lawson Autotech
Staff Recognition Award:
Sponsored by 1Tec Auto Hub
Laura Guild, Lawson AutoTech
Community’s Garage of the Year Award:
Sponsored by GSF Car Parts
Oldfields Garage & Vehicle Hire
Community Member of the Year Award:
Sponsored by Pagid
Diana Whetton from PW Auto Repairs, Newark
Garage Hive Innovator Award:
Sponsored by Garage Hive
Castle Garage, Ashby
