Professional Motor Mechanic – Details, episodes & analysis

The industry needs more apprentices, no one can dispute that. However, it’s easier said than done and many small independent workshops struggle to find, hire and retain younger staff – let alone train them up! We visited an apprentice, Tia Marsh and her tutor at East Coast College, Matt Yeldham, to see what some of the challenges facing apprentices themselves were. Throughout this episode, you will be confronted with an interesting, funny and moving portrait of the industry we all work to improve every day. 

The classic car market is a growing one, bringing a touch of prestige to drivers across the country. But who are those drivers? And is it true that the classic car owner is still primarily a DIYer tinkering away in the garage?  

Well, to answer those questions and get a better idea of what opportunity classic car repair and maintenance offers to independent garages, we travelled to Clayton Classics in Coventry to speak to Director Dean Allsop. Listen to this episode to find out more. 

In this month’s episode of the PMM Podcast, PMM’s News & Product’s editor Freya Coleman visits the woman behind Womanic – Louise Baker. Louise has used her experience running a successful workshop to promote the trade to women and has even appeared on TV to spread her message that the automotive workshop is the perfect place for women to find a trade. Join Freya and Louise in her workshop where they discuss the challenges facing women entering the workshop and what we can all do to create a more diverse workforce.  

Also in this episode, join Professional Motor Factor editor Tom Henman as he catches up with Kalimex’s Mike Schlup for a day at the races. 

Aftermarket trade shows offer the perfect opportunity to catch up with leading figures in the industry. Here, the PMM team brings you three great interviews from the recent Automechanika show touching on the big issues affecting the independent aftermarket.  

So come along with the Freya Coleman and Kieran Nee, presenters of the Professional Motor Mechanic podcast to chat with Steve Nash of the IMI, Mike Bewsey from the VLS and Bill Fennell of the Motor Ombudsman to find out what challenges the sector is facing and how the organisations that stand up for you are dealing with key issues.  

Also this episode, editor of Professional Motor Factor, Tom Henman, pops back into Car Spares Factor’s HQ to catch up with owner Sanjiv Shah.

Thanks to TotalEnergies for sponsoring this episode.

When it comes to car lovers, there are two ends of the spectrum. At one end are the classic car lovers – they love proper vintage motors, authenticity and heritage; at the other, the EV crew – nothing is more blissful to these people than silently gliding around town looking for charge points. One company is making it its mission to bring these two factions together, dragging classic cars into the 21st century and giving electric cars a cooler vibe.  

Join the PMM team as we visit Fellten, a company manufacturing EV-conversion kits for the classic car market, to find out more about how independent garages could be adding a profitable string to their bow by taking customers’ cars from vintage to voltage. 

https://fellten.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/felltensystems/ 

Fetauring: 

Chris Hazell, CEO Fellten 

Garage Hive's Garage Industry Trends data platform recently collected and released a load of data from all the MOTs done in the UK in 2021 so we invited Alex Lindley down to our studio just after the data was released to the industry to find out more.

Featured: 

Alex Lindley, Garage Hive

You might imagine that your workshop has little in common with the Make Ready Centres across the country which keep the NHS’s fleet of vehicles up and running, ready to respond to emergencies at any moment. Well, as we discovered when we visited the South East Coast Ambulance Service in Banstead, many of the pressures and challenges faced by the independent sector are also affecting the NHS.  

Listen as we take you into the workshop where high mileage ambulances get serviced and repaired, and we discuss the advantages and challenges of running an NHS workshop. 

Featured: 

Ross Crook, area workshop manager, NHS South East Coast Ambulance Service

If you’re concerned about the latest MOT proposals from the government, you need to listen to the latest episode of the PMM Podcast.  

Cars have never been so advanced, with ADAS and autonomous driving increasingly taking care of road safety and modern engines maximising emissions efficiency. What’s more, cars communicate with their drivers in ways they have never done before. 

So, the big question the government is asking is: Does the MOT still need to be an annual test?  

To get a straight answer, we visited garages to find out what they are seeing on a daily basis and get their opinion on whether reducing the MOT frequency is a good idea or not. We also spoke to Nick Lyes, head of roads policy at RAC and to Barry Babister, managing director at MOT Juice to see if they could confirm or dispel some myths surrounding the MOT.  

Also in this episode, News & Products Editor Freya Coleman takes listeners through the latest aftermarket news, including the latest updates on MVBEO legislation affecting independent workshops’ ability to compete with franchise dealers.  

From the factor viewpoint, PMF Editor Tom Henman visits YMF Car Parts to discuss how workshops’ spending priorities change according to the economic landscape.  

Many thanks go to our headline sponsor for this episode, Alliance Automotive Group.  

Link to MOT Juice’s MOT Consultation Guide: https://youtu.be/5Wag2pSwzgc  

Link to the petition to stop the changes to the MOT frequency: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/631650  

Featured: 

Barry Babister, managing director, MOT Juice 

Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy, RAC 

Matthew Pope, director, YMF Car Parts 

James Fletcher, director, YMF Car Parts 

Have recent oil shortages really plunged the automotive aftermarket into the dark days of the 1970s (bell bottom overalls, anyone?), or is there more to be optimistic about as the true worth of engine oil is finally acknowledged? This month, the PMM podcast takes you on a journey to find out all about oil – the secret ingredient making cars more efficient than ever. In the episode, Mike Bewsey, Chairman of the Verification of Lubrication Specifications, demystifies some of the jargon surrounding oils and explains why they’re getting so complicated. Meanwhile, Witham Group’s Nigel Bottom offers some interesting insights into the automotive lubricants industry.  

News & Products Editor Freya Coleman brings you the latest updates on the ongoing battle over MOTs, whilst Editor of PMF, Tom Henman sits down for a chat with a Scottish motor factor to discuss parts shortages and the importance of supporting local businesses.  

Thanks go to this month’s sponsor, Delphi Technologies – happy listening! 

Featured: 

Mike Bewsey, VLS 

Nigel Bottom, Witham Group 

Parv Arshad, Motor Factors Scotland 

We've been podcasting for 7 months now! And as a special, festive gift to you, we've put together some of our best bits from the podcast in 2022.

Kieran and Freya reminisce over garage visits, conversations with industry experts, mechanics and those who are the future of the industry.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at PMM.

We'll be back in February with a brand new episode.