The Blend Podcast

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Inspiring success from within the community. Join us at the annual conference and networking event for independent garage owners on the 18th October, 2025 in Birmingham.

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32 recent

September 7, 202630 min

Beyond code: the Garage Hive origin story & the AI roadmap ahead with Ray Dilsons

In our very first in-person recording, borrowing the studio mics from our friends at the On the Ramp Podcast, host Mike Ruff sits down with Garage Hive Managing Director and the original visionary behind The Blend, Ray Dilsons. AI is dominating industry headlines, but for progressive independent workshops, software is only as good as the measurable value it delivers to the bottom line. In this wide-ranging, candid conversation, Ray unpacks what practical automation actually looks like on the workshop floor today, why traditional dealership software models fall short, and how community-led development continues to change the game for independents. Join us at The Blend 2026! The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland. 👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/ The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

August 18, 202631 min

Built differently: Gary Wood on unlocking hidden neurodivergent potential

Today, we’re hearing from Gary Wood of Intelligent Auto in Gateshead, a two-time winner of Small Garage of the Year at The Blend, and this year, he’s aiming for the hat-trick. Gary’s story is one many can relate to: spending 11 years as a mobile tech, tackling the diagnostic jobs nobody else wanted, before taking the leap during COVID to open his own garage workshop. Ahead of his talk at The Blend 2026, Gary joins us to talk about a topic that isn't talked about enough in our trade: neurodiversity. After discovering his own neurodivergence four years ago following his son’s assessment, Gary started looking at his career, his management style, and his team through a completely new lens. Join us at The Blend 2026! The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland. 👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/ The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

July 14, 202628 min

MINI Repair Shop: Dealer standards, independent agility

MINI Repair Shop: Dealer standards, independent agility by The Blend Podcast

June 2, 202628 min

Paul Griffiths: Stepping off the tools

Scaling your independent garage from a couple of ramps to a double-digit team sounds like the ultimate growth milestone, but rapid expansion has a habit of exposing every single crack in your business. If you are still trying to hold onto the spanners while managing a growing headcount, you quickly find that the biggest bottleneck in the workshop is actually you. In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff sits down with Paul Griffiths, owner of the highly successful Scottish independent specialist, Elite Land Rover. Paul charts his raw, unfiltered journey from operating out of a small shed to running a major ten-technician, eight-ramp facility. He pulls back the curtain on the intense operational friction, cash flow bottlenecks, and personal isolation that accompanied his transition away from the workbench. Join us at The Blend 2026! The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland. 👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/ The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

April 17, 202625 min

Edward Cockill: "It's okay not to be all right"

In our industry, men have traditionally been told to just 'get on with it' and that they certainly should not show weakness. But as we all know, today's workshops require a very different kind of leadership. Today, we're joined by Edward Cockill of Uckfield Motor Services. We explore how embracing empathetic leadership and delegating management can transform both the culture and efficiency of an independent workshop. It also tackles pressing industry challenges like vehicle data access and overcoming the dangerous isolation often faced by garage owners. Join us at The Blend 2026! The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland. 👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/ The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

March 12, 202638 min

Running a Business, or Just Fixing Cars? Barry Lawson on getting out more

Are you running a garage business, or just a very stressful job? In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff sits down with Barry Lawson of Lawson Autotech for a candid look at the "isolation trap" that many independent garage owners fall into. Barry reflects on the early years of his business, where he operated in a bubble, believing that constant struggle was just a "normal" part of the trade. The turning point came when his accountant revealed a devastating reality: after a full year of hard work, the business had netted just £16,000, to be split between two partners. Realising he was earning less than he could at a local supermarket, Barry made the radical decision to drop the tools and start looking for answers beyond his workshop walls. If you’ve ever felt like you can’t afford to step away from the workshop, this is the episode you need to hear. Barry’s story is a powerful testament to what happens when you stop being a mechanic and start being a business owner. Join us at The Blend 2026! The Blend returns to the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham on Saturday, 10th October 2026. Join workshops, industry experts, and trade suppliers for a full day of networking and insights, featuring keynote speaker Rory Sutherland. 👉 Learn more and book your tickets: https://www.theblend.events/ The Blend Podcast is proudly sponsored by Garage Hive and produced by Autotech Communications.

October 16, 202524 min

Kicking off The Blend 2025: boots, trails, and garage tales

This week’s episode of The Blend Podcast is a special one. Released just before The Blend 2025, it’s all about community, connection, and why this event means so much to independent garage owners across the UK and Ireland. In this heartfelt episode, we hear from garage owners, sponsors, and members of the wider automotive community reflecting on what The Blend represents: support, shared experience, and the power of coming together in an industry that can sometimes feel isolating. From postponed hikes and charity runs for Ben, to powerful stories of mental health, loss, and resilience, this episode captures the real people behind the garages. You’ll also hear from partners like The Race Group, talking about what’s in store at The Blend this year, from breakout sessions and giveaways to panels tackling recruitment and training challenges head-on. Whether you’re attending The Blend for the first time or you’ve been part of the community for years, this episode will remind you why “together we are stronger.” The Blend Podcast is produced by Autotech Communications.

October 10, 202537 min

Making fleet work, work: Tim Guidotti on doing it right

If you’ve ever thought about taking on fleet work but aren’t quite sure where to start, or maybe you’re already doing it and want to take it further, then Tim Guidotti’s session at The Blend later this month is one you won’t want to miss. Tim’s spent 25 years building one of the UK’s most successful independent fleet operations, and he’s now helping other garages do the same through his training and community platform, The Fleet Guy. Ahead of his talk at The Blend, Tim joins host Mike Ruff to get us in the mood. The Blend Podcast is produced by Autotech Communications.

October 2, 202533 min

Benchmarking for success: How awards can build reputation

In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff welcomes on Tim Benson of Oldfields Garage in Herefordshire, a multi-award-winning independent garage and respected voice in the industry. Together, they explore the often-overlooked power of awards: not just as shiny trophies, but as tools to benchmark performance, motivate teams, attract customers, and raise your business profile locally and nationally. Tim shares his personal journey from joining the family business to leading it into the spotlight, revealing how awards shaped his garage’s reputation and growth. He discusses the mental hurdle of entering that very first competition, the realities of handling disappointment when you don’t win, and the practical steps garages of any size can take to become “award ready.” It comes ahead of Tim’s upcoming session at The Blend on Saturday 18th October titled: How to Put Yourself in the Frame: 7 Steps to Make Your Garage Award Ready. Don’t forget, tickets for The Blend 2025 are nearly gone! The Blend Podcast is produced by Autotech Communications.

September 12, 202525 min

Garage business growth: expansion pain, lessons gained

In this episode of The Blend Podcast, host Mike Ruff sits down with returning guest Dean Lomas to dive deep into the 'rollercoaster' of running, and rapidly expanding, an independent garage business. It comes ahead of his return as a speaker at at The Blend conference and networking in Birmingham on Saturday 18th October. Dean offers practical advice for garage owners considering expansion, including raising prices early to maintain cash flow, investing in ramps and staff to meet demand, and ensuring growth never compromises service quality. The Blend Podcast is produced by Autotech Communications.