Should Garages be licensed?

That was a question we had been asked by Adam Bernstein the editor of Car After-Market Trader (CAT) Magazine. Well that got the brain cells working. Should garages be licensed?

Before we could answer that we had to think about what a license would be for and how that would benefit not only us, but our customers as well.

Did you know that anybody can set up a mechanical repair business?

Yes, anybody!

You do not have to have any qualifications, experience or knowledge to open a garage. It obviously helps if you do but in reality if you've helped your Dad on a Sunday afternoon to change the family car's oil and brakes , then you could feel as if you have the skills to do this for your mates.

You may even do it so well that you decide to do it for Mrs Smith up the road and charge her for it. But did you do it right? Have you used the right OE & OEM parts? Did you know you had to reset the electric handbrake ? Have you tightened your bolts to spec? Have you put the wheels on right and did you notice the discs were pitted and needed replacing as well? Or was that squeak she heard when braking not the brakes at all? Was it the suspension, engine, brake back plates, bushes , suspension, wheel bearings? Did you know lots of things can cause that squeaky sound and its only through training, experience and skills built up over years working and improving in the trade that helps you find the actual cause?

So with this in mind we answered Yes!

Unlike many trades, vehicle repair has direct safety implications. A poorly repaired braking system, steering component, tyre or ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) sensor can put lives at risk.

Modern vehicles are increasingly complex, with:

High-voltage EV systems.

ADAS calibration requirements.

Sophisticated diagnostics.

Cybersecurity-related systems.

so there is also a need to ensure garages keep technically up to date.

For me, the fact that anybody could be working on your car is a significant safety issue.

When you take your car to a garage you risk that the person working on your car could be doing so without any standard level of training, have little or no technical knowledge and no diagnostic qualifications or capabilities. Without set standards to work to and the latest technical information the quality and safety of the work could be at risk, they could be using sub-standard parts or not have diagnosed the correct issue so you are billed for work that didn't need doing in the first place.

I am not saying this to scare you but to to support why I think garages should be licensed. Most of our consumers have little knowledge of cars, especially new more complex ones, and therefore cannot judge whether the work has been done to a quality standard or needed doing at all. Licensing Garages and setting a standard not only improves customer confidence but creates a standard and ensures accountability for all those working in the trade, which for me can only be a good thing.

That's why we proudly tell you about who we are, the qualifications, skills and experience we have, the networks and technical bodies we are signed up to and that we are accredited and approved members of HEVRA, the Independent Garage Association , DPF Doctor and Castrol. So that you have the confidence to know that we will maintain and repair your car to a high standard at an affordable price.

Why looking after customers is still the best way to build a business

In a small family garage, reputation means everything. We’ve been established since 1974, and over the years we’ve learnt that being well regarded by customers is the foundation the whole business is built on.

People trust us with the vehicles they rely on every day — for work, school runs, family visits, and everyday life. That means it matters to us that every customer feels listened to and properly looked after.

For me, being honest, reliable, and doing a good quality job is something to take real pride in. Some of our customers have been with us since the garage first opened over 50 years ago, and that kind of loyalty is very special.

A good reputation also helps in a very practical way. Much of our work comes through recommendations from our customers to families, friends and even people moving into nearby villages. Recently, we’ve also had customers come to us after difficult experiences elsewhere because someone told them we were trustworthy. That means a lot.

We also send a quick text feedback survey at the end of each job, so we can hear straight away how customers feel. Positive feedback gives the whole team a boost, while negative feedback gives us a chance to reflect, put things right, and hopefully keep that customer’s trust.

So while reputation is good for business, it’s also personal. It tells us we’re doing things properly and treating people fairly.

Lets say a welcome to our apprentice.

We’re very happy to say there’s a new face joining our small but mighty garage family here at The Garage Warmington.

Please give a warm welcome to Adam, our new apprentice. He’s 19, heading into the third year of his apprenticeship, and has already managed to fit in brilliantly—which is no small achievement when your trial process includes extreme heat and a workshop that doubles as a greenhouse.

Adam’s two-week trial really was a baptism of fire—and for once, we’re not exaggerating. It landed right in the middle of the June heatwave, with three days in a row hitting more than 37 degrees. Our little tin shed was absolutely roasting. Imagine getting into a sun-baked car, shutting the windows, turning the fan on, and discovering it only has one setting: “hairdryer.” That was pretty much our week.

To his credit, Adam was a star. He happily started earlier so we could avoid the worst of the heat, got stuck in with the rest of us while we fixed cars and slowly melted, and—most importantly—didn’t hog the fan. He picked up our processes quickly, asked good questions, and showed he could crack on independently. In short, he fitted in very well, and we were quietly hoping he liked us as much as we liked him.

After a proper chat about what the garage is all about, where we’re heading, and how we can support him through the final year of his apprenticeship with additional training, and support, Adam accepted our job offer and officially joined us on 1 July. We’re really pleased to have him on board—fan-sharing etiquette and all.

It’s Not a Man’s World – The Women Behind Independent Garages

For many women, walking into a garage can feel intimidating.
It can feel unfamiliar, male-dominated, and like somewhere you might feel unsure, anxious,
or out of place.
But that is not the full story.
Yes, men are often the people customers see first. They may be at the front desk, in the
workshop, or under the bonnet.
But behind many independent garages, there is a woman helping to keep everything
moving.
And we are not just “helping out”.
We understand the customers, the pressure, the paperwork, the diary, the parts, the
invoices, the phone calls, the problem-solving, and the emotional side of running a small
business.
Like many women in this industry, I support my husband in running our independent garage.
I may not always be the first face customers see, but I know exactly how the business works,
and I play a big part in how it is run.
This is not just a business to us. It is part of everyday life, even down to spending weekends
away together for training, like the Technical Topics course we attended in May.
So, if you are a woman who feels nervous walking into a garage, please know this:
• You are not walking into a man’s world.
• You are walking into a family business.

• Very often, there is a woman behind it who understands exactly how you feel.
Independent garages are built on trust, relationships, and real people. Women have always
been part of that story, even if we have not always been the most visible part of it.
So, if you have any concerns about your vehicle, just give us a call. You might be surprised,
and reassured, to hear a woman’s voice on the other end of the line.

Batteries, Brakes & All Those Winter Woes

As the darker evenings draw in and the frost starts settling on windscreens, things get a little busier — and a lot cosier — here at The Garage Warmington. Over the past 50 plus years we’ve seen our fair share of British winters, and January 2026 has been a whirlwind of different weather fronts from mild drizzles, fresh frosty days, snow and apocalyptic rain downpours.

Winter has a funny way of exposing things that were “absolutely fine last month” and this month we've had quite a few "why is my car making that noise?" enquiries. So around this time of year we see a predictable mixture of:

Batteries that have decided they’ve had enough
Tyres losing pressure as temperatures drop
Squeaky brakes (the cold makes everything dramatic)
Wipers that smear more than they clear
Cars that just seem to be in a general grump

Luckily nothing fazes the team. Whether it’s a simple winter check or a tricky diagnostic job, the kettle’s always on and the spanners at the ready.

Adrian, Joshua and Kim

Happy New Year!!!!

Reflections of 2025

5 Jan 2026 13:12

Wow, what a whirlwind 2025 has been for both the garage and me! By the time the year wrapped up, I was honestly shattered and couldn’t wait to put my feet up over Christmas. So, there I was, on holiday—tucking into loads of tasty food and maybe having a cheeky drink or two—and I found myself thinking back over the past year and everything we’ve managed to pull off as a business. The absolute stand-out moment? Bagging the Top Garage of the Year award in the 1-3 employee category! There’s no way I could’ve done it without Josh, my son, working his socks off beside me, and my wife Kim’s unwavering love and support. They’ve both been right there with me as I chased this dream for the last five years. Winning that Top Garage Award is proof of all the time, effort, and investment we’ve poured into building our skills, upgrading our gear, and making customer service a big deal—so we can give our customers nothing but the best.

Winners Top Garage 1-3 Employees 2025

17 Nov 2025 15:24

Words cannot express how we are feeling today!!!

The Top Garage Awards 2025

Top Garage launched in 2018, is designed to highlight the UK’s best garages and reward their efforts. Over the last few years, Top Garage has grown from strength to strength.

Top Garage’s goal is to help develop, reward and add value to the UK’s independent garage network- and champion their success, however big or small!

The competition provides opportunity to:

Supercharge your business development
Highlight areas for improvement through in-depth feedback throughout competition
Network with industry experts at one of the biggest events of the year
Taking part in Top Garage, provides a unique selling point for your business

The BIG Awards 2025 (IGA)

The Independent Garage Association proudly presents the British Independent Garage of the Year Awards to honour the best of our sector, by the industry, for the industry.

The response we received has been nothing short of extraordinary, showcasing a diverse array of talent, innovation, and ingenuity from individuals and organisations around the globe. From ground-breaking start-ups to established enterprises, each submission has brought something unique to the table, embodying the spirit of excellence that defines the BIG Awards.

Thank you to everyone who entered this year’s awards! Your dedication and excellence have set the bar high, showcasing the incredible talent and hard work within the independent garage sector.

Recognising businesses from the length and breadth of Britain, with award categories highlighting all areas that contribute to making the independent garage stand out from the crowd, the BIG Awards have established a new gold standard for the independent garage sector.