A well-equipped workshop with well-trained technicians, should out perform a poor workshop lacking the right tools and expertise. But this is not always the case! Accurate measuring tools must first...

by Tim Milsom In these difficult times, having a good business game plan could be the difference between survival and failure! There are various views on business plan format, contents and style but,...

by Tim Milsom Football mangers devote a lot of their time to assembling the right players, to get the right result on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Youth schemes and football in the community...

About 18 months ago, I launched Operation Clean Sweep at Exminster Garage where I looked at every single cost to the business, to ensure we were getting the best possible deals. I changed a lot of...

A simple Excel spreadsheet is all you need to produce a monthly marketing planner. I use one at Exminster Garage, including special offers, seasonal campaigns and simple ‘name shout’ ads....

At Exminster Garage, our staff contracts state that a monthly discretionary bonus scheme operates, providing the garage is in profit. The discretionary element means that if for some reason you do not...

As staff costs account for around 80% of all business expenses, keeping your workshop staff productively employed for as much of the day as possible is important. But booking in the right number of...

In an industry where massive skill shortages exist, keeping good members of staff is essential – not just for profitable, efficient running but, increasingly, as a matter of business survival....

Some time ago we had a key member of staff leave the business. She had been with us for over ten years, and was a very pro-active member of the senior management team. They say you don’t know...

Training snaps are a simple in-house method of sharing knowledge within our organisation. Every other week, at morning tea break, a member of staff shares his or her knowledge on a particular topic...

None can deny the positive effects of a good appraisal, both to the member of staff and the organisation. But, like many business owners, I always dreaded them – not least because it can...