Mike Ruff, Author at Garage Matters

Generic websites under fire as garages demand real returns from digital spend

Mike Ruff11 May, 202611 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff11 May, 202611 May, 20260

Independent garage owners across the UK and Ireland are increasingly moving away from generic web agencies in favour of specialist automotive digital partners, as frustration...

Race Group and Slicker Recycling launch fixed-fee waste oil service

Mike Ruff8 May, 202611 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff8 May, 202611 May, 20260

The Race Group and Slicker Recycling have announced a new partnership designed to simplify waste management for UK workshops through a fixed-fee, “circular economy” service....

The Blend returns to Snowdon to complete postponed charity hike

Mike Ruff8 May, 20268 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff8 May, 20268 May, 20260

Members of The Blend community have once again demonstrated their resilience and solidarity, successfully completing the postponed Blend Charity Hike to Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), raising...

‘They get us the work we want’: Inside Lea Motors’ digital strategy to filter out low-value jobs

Mike Ruff6 May, 20266 May, 2026

by Mike Ruff6 May, 20266 May, 20260

Independent garages across the UK know the challenge of standing out online. For Hertfordshire-based Lea Motors, a busy eight-staff garage with seven ramps, the solution...

Valeo appoints Bastian Mertens to lead Northern Europe strategy

Mike Ruff29 April, 202629 April, 2026

by Mike Ruff29 April, 202629 April, 20260

Valeo Service UK has announced the appointment of Bastian Mertens as Director of Marketing Aftermarket Northern Europe, signalling the next stage of the supplier’s development...

Nominations now open for 2026 Castrol Service Forever Forward Awards

Mike Ruff28 April, 202628 April, 2026

by Mike Ruff28 April, 202628 April, 20260

Castrol and The Race Group have officially launched their search for the network’s highest-performing independent workshops, announcing the return of the second annual Forever Forward...

Independent garages ‘doomed’? Why the armchair experts are completely wrong

Mike Ruff27 April, 202627 April, 2026

by Mike Ruff27 April, 202627 April, 20261

Let’s talk about the consumer press, again. This week, Auto Express dropped a headline designed to grab attention and drive clicks: ‘Local garage doomed: spiraling...

Renault targets local fleet customers with new mobile service vans

Mike Ruff27 April, 202627 April, 2026

by Mike Ruff27 April, 202627 April, 20260

For independent garages, local light commercial vehicle fleet contracts are the golden ticket of steady, reliable, and highly profitable work. Historically, the independent sector has...

New Castrol ON EV transmission fluid W3 enhances efficiency

Mike Ruff27 April, 202627 April, 2026

by Mike Ruff27 April, 202627 April, 20260

Castrol has launched Castrol ON EV Transmission Fluid W3, a next-generation, full synthetic EV transmission fluid that can help extend the life of the drivetrain...

Garage Services Online upgrades RampUp with online payment functionality

Mike Ruff27 April, 202627 April, 2026

by Mike Ruff27 April, 202627 April, 20260

Garage Services Online (GSO) has announced a major upgrade to its award-winning RampUp booking widget, integrating global payment processor Stripe to allow independent garages to...

Generic websites under fire as garages demand real returns from digital spend

Race Group and Slicker Recycling launch fixed-fee waste oil service

The Blend returns to Snowdon to complete postponed charity hike

‘They get us the work we want’: Inside Lea Motors’ digital strategy to filter out low-value jobs

Valeo appoints Bastian Mertens to lead Northern Europe strategy

Nominations now open for 2026 Castrol Service Forever Forward Awards

Independent garages ‘doomed’? Why the armchair experts are completely wrong

Renault targets local fleet customers with new mobile service vans

New Castrol ON EV transmission fluid W3 enhances efficiency

Garage Services Online upgrades RampUp with online payment functionality

New Valeo eAxle signals the future of affordable hybrid 4WD

The Blend Podcast puts neurodiversity under the spotlight ahead of conference session

Non-testing garages and mobile technicians urged to capitalise on upcoming MOT surge

No distinction between poor maintenance and tampering in proposed DfT rules

IGA demands £95 MOT fee as 16-year freeze pushes testing bays to...

New Valeo eAxle signals the future of affordable hybrid 4WD

The Blend Podcast puts neurodiversity under the spotlight ahead of conference session

Non-testing garages and mobile technicians urged to capitalise on upcoming MOT surge

No distinction between poor maintenance and tampering in proposed DfT rules

IGA demands £95 MOT fee as 16-year freeze pushes testing bays to brink