Speaker line-up & Sessions
Special Guest
Rory Sutherland: Alchemist and Behavioural Science Impresario
Speaker Sessions
Missing a trick – how to find sustainable growth
Phil Brookes from Phil Brookes and Associates
Let's face it, we all want to grow our business, but can we do so in a sustainable way?
Hear Phil's insights, things you could try and more importantly, things he's seen that haven't worked.
Community campaigns lead to growth
Sophie Lyden from The Tyre Lady
Sophie worked tirelessly over the years both in her local community and across the UK to campaign for tyre and road safety. A secondary benefit is that that this has let her business grow.
Gateways, OEM tools, SERMI and other topics. Answered.
Mark Webb from Garage Vitals
Struggling with gateways, OEM tools, SERMI, or anything else on your mind? Mark is here to help with the answers and practical advice – submit your questions in advance using this link: SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
Panel Guests:
Panel: Chaos VS Control
Host: Barry Lawson from Lawson Autotech
Chaos versus control. Let's face it, running a garage is hard work and as with any business you never likely feel in control. However, some garage owners will share their experience about how they find calm in the chaos.
Chris & Gemma Jones
Jonesys Garage
Jamie McGeoghan
Chequers Lane Garage
Kay & Neil Fellows
Stourbridge Automotive
Neurodiversity in the Motor Trade
Gary Wood from Intelligent Auto
A champion for people with neuro diversity Gary recently started using his experience and voice to support others.
Only by understanding ourselves and each other can we be at our best
Escaping the Technician Trap: When Technicians Become Employers
Jennifer Webb from HR Vitals
A talk specifically for the Garage Owners who are Technicians. She will talk through a few practical steps that you can implement instantly on how to juggle that tricky dynamic of being able to fix cars, but also needing to lead a team and build a business. There will also be a Q&A session for you to fire questions at Jennifer - this is the value that you only get at the Blend, it is rare that you get to hear what HR questions garage owners ask Jennifer and hear what her answers are.
Building a Modern Independent Garage That Stands Out
Steven Chambers and Kyle Berry from The Mini Repair Shop
From Start-Up to Specialist of the Year. Steven and Kyle, co-owners of The MINI Repair Shop, share the real story behind building a modern, award-winning independent BMW & MINI specialist from the ground up, starting with just two technicians, a clear vision and a commitment to doing things differently.
Topics covered
• How specialising helped us compete confidently with main dealers
• Building a strong brand identity that attracts the right customers
• Using social media and transparency to build trust and increase sales
• Leveraging industry recognition, awards and community engagement to accelerate growth
• Scaling sustainably from a small start-up to an expanding multi-ramp business
Getting Real Value from Apprenticeships
Eleanor Baker-Barnes from Apprenticeship Central
From Apprentice to High Performer. Many workshops want to/ do take on apprentices but struggle to turn them into productive members of the team. This session would look at how businesses can maximise the value of apprenticeships through better recruitment, structured mentoring, and clear development pathways. Drawing on real-world industry examples, the talk will show how workshops can build long-term skills and develop a talent pipeline to future-proof their business.
The future of the independent workshop — and what capability really means commercially in 2026
Andy Bastable from NAPA Auto Parts
In The Driver’s Seat: What Drivers are really telling us
Amanda Webb from FixMyCar
Consumer insights to ensure you aren't playing guesswork.
The Changing Media Landscape
Tina Parker from Tone Communications & Phil Curry from Auto Repair Focus
The media landscape has changed enormously for both B2C and B2B. Phil and Tina, with different areas of expertise, both caring about the same cause - engaging with people, sharing insights and the art of storytelling.
Two Bosses, One Bed
Tim Guidotti and Judith Guidotti from Fleet Guy & Ferdotti Motor Services
The Right Part for the Right Repair
Annick Journdenais from LKQ SYNETIQ
What would you do? In this interactive session with LKQ SYNETIQ, we’ll explore real-world repair scenarios and the choices available when it comes to parts and repair pathways. With consumers demanding convenience and cost pressures continuing to shape decisions, find out how options like remanufactured, recycled and reused OE can help keep repairs moving cost effectively – and why having choice matters.
Beyond the Hype, How Garages are Developing with AI
Tim Benson from Oldfields Garage
From One Garage to Another: Hear about Castrol Service from the owners
An informal drop-in Castrol Service workshop owners (Matt & Claire Cleevely, Tim Guidotti and Ian Tudor) will share their experiences, insights and what being part of the network really means for their businesses.
