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.html

From 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 influences

18:02 – Burnout, the Tesco years, and rediscovering purpose

21:36 – Sponsored segment

22:12 – Launching Womanic and building a customer base

33:01 – Inspiring the next generation through school and college visits

47:00 – Building a garage, giving back, and future plans

53:00 – Reflections, contentment, and advice for the next generation

Subscribe for more expert insight, honest conversation, and real stories from inside the independent garage sector.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/ontheramp

#ontheramp #garageowners #automotiveindustry #womeninthetrades #castrol

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.html

Fife 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 – Introduction

02:12 – How did he get into the trade?

22:35 – Sponsored Segment

23:49 – Apprenticeship, job loss, and regaining momentum

43:04 – Diagnostic journey, SimplyDiag, and early business plans

01:04:05 – Starting Fife Autotech and rapid growth

01:21:30 – Building a strong team and scaling the business

01:27:05 – Finding balance and reflections on the journey

01:31:10 – What’s next for Fife Autotech?

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beacons.ai/ontheramp

#ontheramp #automotivebusiness #independentgarage #automotiveindustry

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.html

Finance 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 – Introduction

02:24 – Guest background: About Lee and One Funding

03:51 – What are the biggest financial challenges for independent garages?

08:43 – Understanding asset finance

23:02 – Ensuring you have sufficient working capital30:18 – Sponsored segment

31:32 – Managing cash flow and exploring business loans

48:47 – 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