One of Surrey’s busiest independent garages joins SCS

We are delighted to be working with Tina Drayson who is the Operations Manager at CCM Garages. Many of you will know Tina who has written numerous articles in the PMM, Garage Wire & Aftermarket Online.

CCM are a leading independent garage group offering car repair, MOT and specialist motor trade services across 4 locations in Surrey and Sussex.

The business has been trading for 30 years from its humble beginnings in Ewhurst, Surrey, where our head office still resides.

CCM employs 26 technicians, mechanics, MOT testers plus a fantastic support team who maintain and service all makes and models of cars and light commercial vehicles.

CCM have the staff, tools, technology, mechanical knowledge and skills to follow through on all aspects of car repair from a wiper blade to an engine rebuilds

CCM are probably the best cost alternative to manufacturers main dealers in the area, for all makes and models of vehicles, covering routine servicing, MOT’s and all aspects of car repair.

Yet another thank you goes to Andy Savva ‘The Garage Inspector’ for another kind Introduction.

For all of your motoring needs in Surrey I recommend you look no further than CCM who always provide a top class service from a forward thinking and professional team.

For expert Independent Garage Health & Safety advice then contact us today

It is great to be invited to help the dynamic William Hill from MSC Wisborough Green. The team at MSC are one of the friendliest teams I have the pleasure of working with.

Their attitude is to always put customers first and that’s why they are proud to offer extremely high standards of customer service. They offer different services, MOTs and repairs and want to reassure their customers that they will be receiving quality workmanship. They also aim to provide affordable prices, will always be honest & upfront about all aspects of the work that’s is required.

MSC also offer a collection and delivery service. If a vehicle gets MOT tested, repaired or serviced with them they will be happy to pick it up and drop it off free of charge. MSC are conveniently located on Newpound Lane and open Monday to Saturday six days a week.

A brief mention goes to Andy Savva ‘The Garage Inspector’ for yet another kind referral. William & his team have attended many of Andy’s fantastic courses which have proved incredibly helpful.

For all of your motoring needs in West Sussex I recommend you look no further than MSC.

Top class Service from a friendly and professional team.

For expert Independent Garage Health & Safety advice then contact us today

Statistics released today show that Great Britain is still one of the safest places in the world to work with the lowest number of deaths on record.

However, more than half of Britain’s working days lost in 2019/20 were due to mental ill-health.

The annual report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) includes statistics for work-related ill health, workplace injuries, working days lost, enforcement action taken, and the associated costs to Great Britain.

The emergence of COVID-19 as a national health issue at the end of final quarter of 2019/20 does not appear to be the main driver of changes seen in the 2019/20 data, although it is possible that COVID-19 may be a contributory factor.

HSE has been at the heart of work across government for getting Great Britain’s workplaces Covid Secure. As part of HSE’s response to COVID-19, it has continued to support the wider health response through working closely with National Public Health Bodies, Local Authorities and local health teams.

Figures show that around 693,000 workers sustained non-fatal injuries in 2019/2020 and 1.6 million workers suffering from work-related ill-health.

The statistics, compiled from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and other sources, illustrate that in Great Britain in the 2019/2020 period there were;

111 fatal injuries at work
1.6 million working people suffering from a work-related illness
38.8 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
325 cases were prosecuted and resulted in a conviction. Fines from convictions totalled £35.8 million

In 2019/2020, the estimated economic cost to Great Britain totalled £16.2 billion with 38.8 million working days lost.

In response to the report, Sarah Newton, HSE Chair said:

“The Covid pandemic has focussed attention on the health and safety issues people face in the workplace. HSE remains committed to taking action where workers are not protected, to ensure the guidance and assistance we provide for employers in managing risks is the best available, based on the latest evidence and science.

“Although Great Britain continues to be up there with the safest places in the world to work, these figures highlight the scale of the challenge HSE currently faces in making Britain an even healthier and safer place to work, this includes our role in the response to the pandemic to ensure workplaces are Covid Secure.

“We must continue to drive home the importance of managing risk and promoting behaviours to ensure employers work right so that workers are able to go home healthy and safe at the end of each day.”

It was great to visit Ross & Stuart from Japex in Kings Langley in Watford again. The team at Japex are one of the most professional outfits I have the pleasure of working with.

Japex attitude is that every driver should have access to a local, independent car garage that offers a dealer-standard service but without the dealer price tag! They use the highest quality diagnostic equipment and the latest manufacturers’ specifications for all of their services.

The team are all committed to providing a tailored service and honest, upfront and transparent advice at all times.

Customers want to put their pride and joy in the hands of a car garage they can trust – so the lads are more than happy to have an informal chat before any work or servicing is carried out.

A huge thank you goes to Andy Savva ‘The Garage Inspector’ for yet another kind referral. Ross & Stuart have been delegates on  many of Andy’s courses which have proved invaluable.

For all your Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Subaru or Kia motoring needs I recommend you look no further than Japex.

Top class Service from a friendly and professional team.

For expert Independent Garage Health & Safety advice then contact us today

Classic car specialist became engulfed in flames while working on a car

A self-employed classic car mechanic has suffered 45 per cent burns after his family say he waited two hours for an ambulance following a workshop explosion.

Chris Williams-Ellis was working on a car at his home in Corwen, Denbighshire when it suddenly caught fire on September 8.

His partner, Catherine Stewart, pulled him to safety, but his family say it took repeated calls to Wales Ambulance Service before paramedics arrived at the scene.

The service has since apologised for the delay.

Ms Stewart said: “Chris was underneath a car when something unknown caused a spark and this in turn set fire to Chris.

“I managed to pull Chris, who was very badly burned, out from under the car and called emergency services.

“I then watched helplessly as the fire engulfed everything in the barn, including a number of vehicles, all Chris’s tools and the roof.”

Chris was originally taken to Whiston Hospital, in Merseyside, where he underwent skin grafts, but after developing pneumonia, he was transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital, Greater Manchester, and placed on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine to take over his heart and lung functions.

At one point the Chris was given a 50/50 chance of survival.

Ms Stewart added: “Chris has been fighting hard and he has now been removed from this life support, but still in a coma in intensive care and just recently underwent skin grafts to repair his worst burns on his arms and hands.

“He will be in hospital for a long time to receive ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.”

Jason Killens, chief executive at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “We know this will be a profoundly upsetting time for the family of Mr Williams-Ellis, and the thoughts of everyone at the ambulance service are with them.

“Given the very serious nature of what happened, an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events and the cause of the unacceptable delay – for which we are very sorry – is being prioritised and concluded as swiftly as possible.

“We are an organisation committed to learning and improvement, and have offered to meet the Williams-Ellis family to take them through our findings and any lessons identified in full.

“Our thoughts remain with Mr Williams-Ellis and his family at this deeply distressing time.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family and so far it has raised more than £7,000. The motortrade is one big family so if you are part of it then please give generously.

Today marks a special day as it was the start of an ongoing partnership between SCS and John & the team at VRT in Slough. Team VRT have seen the importance of health and safety in an ever changing motor trade and decided it was time to seek expert advise.

A huge thank you goes to Andy Savva ‘The Garage Inspector’ for yet another kind recommendation. John has attended many of Andy’s courses which has helped turn the business around.

What started off with a single bay unit for VRT has quickly increased to a second unit and now a third unit.

With more work than space, John and the team are looking for new premises and can therefore see a greater reason to embrace health and safety when the move eventually comes.

For all your VW, AUDI, SEAT or SKODA motoring needs in and around Slough I recommend you look no further than VRT.

Top class Service from a friendly and professional team.

For expert Independent Garage Health & Safety advice then contact us today

It was great to see Keval and the team again at the incredibly popular Pitlane MOT & Service Centre in Luton.

It is not an understatement when we say this independent garage may not be the biggest but it is definitely one of the busiest.

On our visit to carry out a free Health & Safety audit we reckon they had every vehicle in Luton in the workshops or yard and even surrounding empty units on the industrial estate.

Their customer care is second to known. Well done to all the ladies and gents at Pitlane.

For expert Independent Garage Health & Safety advice then contact us today

Business owner Syed Athar from Smart MOT & Service Centre in Birmingham has joined forces with us as be believes the safety of both his staff & customers is paramount.

After winning ‘Best MOT Testing & Repair Service Centre – Birmingham 2020’ by the prestigious SME News Midlands Enterprise Awards, the forward thinking entrepreneur makes his next move to potentially take over the two neighbouring units. With the expansion plans will bring increased staffing level & greater Health & Safety responsibility.

This partnership would never have happened if it wasn’t for the kind introduction of Andy Savva The Garage Inspector so a big thank you goes out to him.

For expert Independent Garage Health & Safety advice then contact us today

It was great to see Andy Savva ‘The Garage Inspector’ again yesterday but this time in a completely different environment. I was invited along to see him in action, teaching his popular Marketing Essentials training course to a packed conference room of garage entrepreneurs, at the beautiful Stanhill Court Hotel in Horley.

During my 35 years in business, I have attended numerous training courses but none with so much passion, gusto & humour. Everyone in the room, including myself as a guest, was captivated from beginning to end.

It is a huge privilege to be recommended by Andy, who is a guru in our sector and to be given a dedicated page showcasing our business in his training day workbooks.

Before leaving I was given the opportunity to address the delegates and give a speech on Health & Safety, explaining our services and how we assist Independent garages.

If you are an independent garage owner, I would thoroughly recommend attending at least one of Andy’s numerous courses as I promise you will not be disappointed.

For expert Independent Garage Health & Safety advice then contact us today

At last the new Rygor Commercials depot at Heathrow opens for business and it was fantastic to get to work at this incredible site.

No expense has been spared regarding the Health and Safety of its employees and visitors attending site.

All of the equipment on site is brand new and state of the art from hi visibility compressed air hoses to new inspection pits with remote controlled pit covers.

All truck dealers should follow this example