EP 27: Tech Topics Alumni - Master Technician Reaccreditation

"Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others."  In the latest episode of the Harmonic Motion podcast, Barry Lawson joins James in an open discussion on what being an independent garage owner in Scotland looks like. After leaving the dealer network, Barry joined the family business, Lawson Autotech, with his Dad. With just the two of them, they had to become business managers as well as technicians to keep the ship running smoothly; a story other small garage owners know all too well. What pulled Barry out of this routine was networking. Connecting with other garage owners showed him he wasn't alone in the issues he faced and this reassurance lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. Now, Barry has transformed the garage into a highly successful, 9 staff operation. Learning from others, he's scaled the business using techniques that underpin his core values and allow him to provide the best service possible. Lawson Autotech has undergone the controversial transition to the 4 day working week. Barry shares what the real-world implementation looks like and the outstanding impact it's had on the business and workforce. Wanting to give back to the industry, Barry is hosting his very own networking event in Scotland. Designed for independent garage owners, technicians and staff, the Thistle Auto Revival event unites the independent garage sector across Scotland, providing an opportunity to connect, learn and network. Thistle Auto Revival Inglewood House & Spa Saturday 7th February 2026 Join us at Thistle Auto Revival for a day of networking for the independent garage owner, and good vibes! Find out more and buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thistle-auto-revival-tickets-1112416320159?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawIFi3ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcAgboD2xa44MUguMa19pCVYbFucYjZMxv9Vv3z2h177iAKwVvzbEauGBA_aem_R3QFRMTdTPN9NktvVfMbwQ  Barry Lawson: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LawsonAutotech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsonautotech/ Website: https://lawsonautotech.co.uk/ Harmonic Motion Podcast Join the community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/  Find more episodes: https://techtopics.co.uk/harmonic-motion-podcast/  Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast   

"I only had €42 and a toolbox. I spent that on cleaning supplies and whatever cash flow we made went back into the business." In this episode, it's J.P. D'Arcy's turn in the hot seat. Once a dealership technician, he shares how he walked away from the job when he realised the role didn't align with his morals. He had no plan, no savings and a young family, but knew he could no longer stay. Talking about the early days in a car salesman's service bay to the successful specialist garage he's built, J.P. is open about the trials and tribulations, difficult decisions and personal experiences that shaped his journey to success. Now, he's using this experience to help others avoid the same mistakes when starting up on their own. The Garage Business Growth Event is founded on the idea of sharing the tools, resources and industry leaders that helped J.P. in his own journey. Summary Retraining at 28 with a young family The day J.P. knew he had to leave the dealership One business practice that saw him through the early days of garage ownership Just how far values and morals get you in business Using social media to build a consistent flow of A class customers 3 core practices that build an engaged and productive workforce The Garage Business Growth Event Saturday 2nd August The Radisson Blu Hotel - Little Island - Cork Four incredible guest speakers share their knowledge and wisdom in the different elements of business and garage life. Find out more: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/jp-darcy-garage-business-growth-event-tickets-1412526407509?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawLbDqRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBlbnV2TDV5czVqM1Y2N0RIAR5tBkzuCSfCLWk-Tc_0GAw7QcUmGm3pJ_csOc-aNLJvPOh2KlRGbeLz4TUcgg_aem_v_zdMHQwoWzeRlwMyuRe-A Connect J.P. D'Arcy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jpdarcycarcareandperformance  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jpcarcare  Website: https://carcareandperformance.com/ Harmonic Motion Podcast Join the community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/  Find more episodes: https://techtopics.co.uk/harmonic-motion-podcast/  Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast     

What does it really take to grow a successful independent garage? In this episode of the Harmonic Motion Podcast, we're joined by Paul Griffiths, owner of Elite Land Rovers in Clydebank. Paul shares his journey from working alone in a small unit to building what is now Scotland's largest independent Land Rover specialist. Along the way, he's faced the real challenges that come with rapid growth — from managing people and process, to protecting your own wellbeing as the pressure mounts. In this conversation, Paul and James discuss: The turning points (and missteps) in scaling a garage Recognising the signs of burnout — and making space to lead Making the finances support the business you're trying to build It's a reflective discussion that speaks to the realities of life in the trade — and what it means to build something with care.  We hope you enjoy! Get involved in the podcast and be the first to know about new episodes by joining the Harmonic Motion podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/ Get in touch with us: [email protected] Connect: Elite Land Rover: https://elitelandrover.com/ Website: https://techtopics.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/technical.topics.training/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tthq_techtopics/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/techtopics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/technical-topics-ltd Listen: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/harmonic-motion/id1665148277 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SzEMN08BU7wCSdB3xkXkH?si=e12f5c6f381f4681 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/364bf8fa-82b5-43e5-b227-ad9eb99e8fd3/harmonic-motion Watch the video version of this episode and subscribe to the Harmonic Motion YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast

For this Technical Synchromesh episode, James is joined by Mark Wight, Terry Stokes, Simon Parkinson, Marc Roberts and Rob Drinkwater. After a full day of Master Tech assessments, our esteemed guests stayed late to provide valuable insight on their unique experience as adept Master Technicians. In an industry where being qualified is not a requirement, they discuss the importance of flying your own flag and how to promoting yourself as an exceptional garage to your customers and employees. They also discuss their usage of AI. Despite it's well-known drawbacks, it has the potential to be a game-changer for independent garages by streamlining time-consuming and often tedious tasks. And finally, with the recent Stellantis merger, our expert guests discuss the challenges of providing service and repair for a range of brands and what changes the industry may see for dealer tools in the future. We hope you enjoy! Get involved in the podcast and be the first to know about new episodes by joining the Harmonic Motion podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/ Get in touch with us: [email protected] Connect: Mark Wight: https://www.facebook.com/markwightltd/ Terry Stokes Simon Parkinson: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078873977270 Marc Roberts Website: https://techtopics.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/technical.topics.training/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tthq_techtopics/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/techtopics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/technical-topics-ltd Listen: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/harmonic-motion/id1665148277 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SzEMN08BU7wCSdB3xkXkH?si=e12f5c6f381f4681 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/364bf8fa-82b5-43e5-b227-ad9eb99e8fd3/harmonic-motion Watch the video version of this episode and subscribe to the Harmonic Motion YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast

James sat down with Andy Crook, long-time friend, owner of Atomic Success and founder of the Garage Owners Network, to discuss a nuanced topic in the industry. Is a new garage management system the answer to the issues in your business or is it your own internal processes? Garage management systems go hand in hand with internal processes, in order to make the most out of one you need the other. James and Andy discuss common issues garages have with, the consequences these issues have and how to identify where the breakdown is so you can repair it. They also share their secrets to awesome business management and how to build the business you've dreamed of. Get involved in the podcast and be the first to know about new episodes by joining the Harmonic Motion podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/ Get in touch with us: [email protected] Connect: Follow Andy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taffycrook Atomic Success The Garage Owners Network Website: https://techtopics.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/technical.topics.training/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tthq_techtopics/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/techtopics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/technical-topics-ltd Listen: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/harmonic-motion/id1665148277 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SzEMN08BU7wCSdB3xkXkH?si=e12f5c6f381f4681 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/364bf8fa-82b5-43e5-b227-ad9eb99e8fd3/harmonic-motion Watch the video version of this episode and subscribe to the Harmonic Motion YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast

🎵It's the last pod episode of the year🎵   Hello everyone! We hope you're all well and getting ready to wind down for Christmas.   For the last HMP episode of 2024, we're bringing you some more of our esteemed Master Technician Alumni.   Michael, Mark, Josh, Mike and Dan completed their Master Tech programme with us in Jan 2023 and came back down for a visit to maintain their MT status.   All still good friends, they chat with James about their careers after completing the programme, share disaster job stories and give advice they wish they heard when they first started in the industry, all those many moons ago.   Merry Christmas to you all! Enjoy! Get involved in the podcast and be the first to know about new episodes by joining the Harmonic Motion podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/ Get in touch with us: [email protected] Connect: Website: https://techtopics.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/technical.topics.training/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tthq_techtopics/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/techtopics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/technical-topics-ltd Listen: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/harmonic-motion/id1665148277 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SzEMN08BU7wCSdB3xkXkH?si=e12f5c6f381f4681 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/364bf8fa-82b5-43e5-b227-ad9eb99e8fd3/harmonic-motion Watch the video version of this episode and subscribe to the Harmonic Motion YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast

Nigel Yardley, Steve Scott, Adam Nowak, Simon Carter and David Davies are esteemed members of the Tech Topics alumni.   They completed the Master Technician programme in 2022 and were here in October to complete their reaccreditation assessments and maintain their status as Master Technician.   James sat down with the guys to discuss their personal journeys to success, the impact developing critical thinking skills had on their careers and how they think the industry needs to change to keep up.   Enjoy! Get involved in the podcast and be the first to know about new episodes by joining the Harmonic Motion podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/ Get in touch with us: [email protected] Connect: Website: https://techtopics.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/technical.topics.training/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tthq_techtopics/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/techtopics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/technical-topics-ltd Listen: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/harmonic-motion/id1665148277 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SzEMN08BU7wCSdB3xkXkH?si=e12f5c6f381f4681 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/364bf8fa-82b5-43e5-b227-ad9eb99e8fd3/harmonic-motion Watch the video version of this episode and subscribe to the Harmonic Motion YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast

  We welcomed another group of our Master Technicians into the TT podcast studio whilst they were here at Technical Topics for the Advanced Electronics course.   James, Eugene, Steven, Callum, Malc and Frazer chewed the cud on specialising vs general repair, being clear in client communication and expectations and the integral role software has on modern vehicles.   Enjoy! Get involved in the podcast and be the first to know about new episodes by joining the Harmonic Motion podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/ Get in touch with us: [email protected] Connect: Website: https://techtopics.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/technical.topics.training/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tthq_techtopics/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/techtopics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/technical-topics-ltd Listen: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/harmonic-motion/id1665148277 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SzEMN08BU7wCSdB3xkXkH?si=e12f5c6f381f4681 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/364bf8fa-82b5-43e5-b227-ad9eb99e8fd3/harmonic-motion Watch the video version of this episode and subscribe to the Harmonic Motion YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast

James sat down with 3 of our current Diagnostic Technicians and some of the TT training team for another iteration of the Technical Synchromesh mini-series. Michael, Wes and Dave have been working towards becoming Diagnostic Technicians since summer 2023 and are two modules away from the big final assessment. The group discuss with Rob and James the rising cost of using and accessing dealer tools (in both time and money), the pros and cons of SERMI and how they're evolving to keep up with new technologies as an independent business and why this is so crucial. Enjoy! Get involved in the podcast and be the first to know about new episodes by joining the Harmonic Motion podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/ Get in touch with us: [email protected] Connect: Website: https://techtopics.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/technical.topics.training/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tthq_techtopics/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/techtopics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/technical-topics-ltd Listen: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/harmonic-motion/id1665148277 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SzEMN08BU7wCSdB3xkXkH?si=e12f5c6f381f4681 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/364bf8fa-82b5-43e5-b227-ad9eb99e8fd3/harmonic-motion Watch the video version of this episode and subscribe to the Harmonic Motion YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast

For this Technical Synchromesh Episode, we invited five members of one of our Master Technician groups to the podcast. These guys are coming up to the end of their programme, with only two modules left before they reach their final assessment. With a multitude of perspectives to share, our guests cover all sorts of topics like the impact of taking an apprentice on, perception of the industry and the level of technological understanding of the general public. Get involved in the podcast and be the first to know about new episodes by joining the Harmonic Motion podcast Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/ Get in touch with us: [email protected] Connect: Website: https://techtopics.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/technical.topics.training/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tthq_techtopics/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/techtopics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/technical-topics-ltd Listen: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/harmonic-motion/id1665148277 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SzEMN08BU7wCSdB3xkXkH?si=e12f5c6f381f4681 Amazon: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/364bf8fa-82b5-43e5-b227-ad9eb99e8fd3/harmonic-motion Watch the video version of this episode and subscribe to the Harmonic Motion YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast