“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: hello@techtopics.co.uk

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