On The Ramp - The Independent Automotive Garage Owners Podcast.

• £500 and a Dream: Building a Garage Brand from Nothing...

  This episode is sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group.To learn more about Castrol Service, please visit: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.htmlFrom burnout in retail to building a garage brand from scratch, this episode tells the powerful story of Louise Baker, founder of Womanic.With no formal qualifications and just £400 to her name, Louise started fixing cars in her apartment car park while raising her daughter solo. Now fully booked, she runs her own workshop, speaks in schools, and is inspiring the next generation of technicians through her work and her new all-female show, Auto Angels.We talk about leaving the motor trade, finding the courage to return, and how she built a business with nothing but grit, honesty, and a deep love for the job.If you're in the trade, this one will hit home.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction and early influences18:02 – Burnout, the Tesco years, and rediscovering purpose21:36 – Sponsored segment22:12 – Launching Womanic and building a customer base33:01 – Inspiring the next generation through school and college visits47:00 – Building a garage, giving back, and future plans53:00 – Reflections, contentment, and advice for the next generationSubscribe for more expert insight, honest conversation, and real stories from inside the independent garage sector.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/ontheramp#ontheramp #garageowners #automotiveindustry #womeninthetrades #castrol

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• £0 to £1m in 3 years: The Story of Fife Autotech’s Rapid Rise

  This episode is sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group. To learn more about Castrol Service, please visit: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.htmlFife Autotech’s Chay joins us to share how he went from a dealership technician to building one of the most successful specialist garages in Scotland – hitting £1M turnover in just 3 years.In this episode, Chay breaks down the reality of starting from scratch, the mindset behind his decisions, and what it really takes to scale a garage quickly — from risk and sacrifice to hiring the right team and obsessing over numbers.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:12 – How did he get into the trade?22:35 – Sponsored Segment23:49 – Apprenticeship, job loss, and regaining momentum43:04 – Diagnostic journey, SimplyDiag, and early business plans01:04:05 – Starting Fife Autotech and rapid growth01:21:30 – Building a strong team and scaling the business01:27:05 – Finding balance and reflections on the journey01:31:10 – What’s next for Fife Autotech?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/ontheramp#ontheramp #automotivebusiness #independentgarage #automotiveindustry

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• #28 Finance for Garages: What You Need to Know

  This episode is sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group. To learn more about Castrol Service, please visit: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.htmlFinance can be one of the hardest things for independent garages to get right — and one of the least talked about.In this episode, we sit down with Lee Schofield, founder of One Funding, for an honest look at the real challenges and opportunities around funding a garage business.From asset finance to working capital, buying another business to managing risk, this conversation covers the key questions every garage owner should be thinking about. Whether you’re growing fast or just planning ahead, Lee shares practical advice based on years of experience in the industry.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:24 – Guest background: About Lee and One Funding03:51 – What are the biggest financial challenges for independent garages?08:43 – Understanding asset finance23:02 – Ensuring you have sufficient working capital30:18 – Sponsored segment31:32 – Managing cash flow and exploring business loans48:47 – How can you finance the purchase of another business?53:29 – What should you look for in a finance provider?Subscribe for more expert insight, honest conversation, and real stories from inside the independent garage sector.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/ontheramp#ontheramp #automotivebusiness #garagefinance #independentgarage #automotiveindustry

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• #27 Starting From Zero With The Car Nerd

  This episode is sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group. To learn more about Castrol Service, please visit: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.htmlFrom five-star hotels to fault-finding on the road, this episode dives into the journey of Cathal, better known as The Car Nerd. He didn’t take a traditional path into the trade. After starting in hospitality, Cathal moved into car sales, then built a van business from the ground up. But it was diagnostics — not sales — that truly sparked his interest.We talk about the early days working out of a small yard, how he taught himself remapping, and why he focused on professionalism from the start. From mobile tuning to opening his own workshop, Cathal now runs a growing diagnostics and performance business in Northern Ireland, backed by a Top Gear Tuning franchise and a commitment to doing things the right way.Whether you’re in the trade or just curious about what it takes to build a business like this, Cathal’s story is full of insight, hard-earned lessons, and practical advice.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:25 – How did Cathal get started?27:50 – What drives him to keep pushing forward?50:17 – A deep dive into diagnostics01:04:22 – What’s next for The Car Nerd?Subscribe for more expert insight, honest conversation, and real stories from inside the independent garage sector.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/ontheramp#ontheramp #automotiveexcellence #automotivebusiness #automotiveindustry

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• #26 One year in, we reflect and refocus. Business failures, acquisitions, and key hires

  This episode is sponsored by Castrol and The Race Group. To learn more about Castrol Service, please visit: https://www.castrol.com/en_gb/united-kingdom/home.htmlA full year of On The Ramp and the journey is just getting started. In this episode, Alex, Leo and Nathan reflect on the past 12 months, sharing honest insights about their businesses — the wins, the setbacks, and the bold decisions shaping what’s next.Expect real talk about closing divisions, launching new sites, stepping back from operations, and building tools the industry needs. If you're in the garage trade, this is one to take in.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction03:06 – Business updates from Lindleys Autocentres18:45 – Dack Motor Group update33:43 – Sponsor message34:57 – Walsall Wood Tyre & Service Centre updateSubscribe for more expert insight, honest conversation, and real stories from inside the independent garage sector.⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/ontheramp#ontheramp #automotiveexcellence #automotivebusiness #Automotiveindustry

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