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TMO Talks To Colin Gleghorn, Owner
Established in 1962, Soul Garages is a Motor Ombudsman-accredited independent garage in the picturesque Buckinghamshire market town of Olney. The business specialises in the repairs of all makes and models of cars and light commercial vehicles. We spoke to Owner Colin Gleghorn to find out more about Soul Garages and how it stands out in the local area and beyond.
TMO: What are some of your career highlights, and what drew you to work in the motor industry?
CG: I have had a varied and exciting career so far after completing my degree in Applied Maths at the Army School of Education in Surrey. I went on to have a long career in the military and served across the globe. My first role in the motor industry was as a consultant for the likes of Suzuki, Toyota and JCB, which led me into the sphere of learning and development. I then headed up two training businesses before becoming Owner of Soul Garages in 2022 – a successful independent garage that had already been trading for 60 years at the time.
The motor industry was a natural step in my career and for my management and technological skillset, as there were synergies with what I had done previously. It is a sector which offers varied and job opportunities and a drive for continuous improvement, which is what I thrive on.
TMO: How does Soul Garages stand out from other independent repairers, and what are the key ingredients for delivering a high standard of work and service to your customers?
CG: We have a very good local reputation in this beautiful old town, and have continually refined our business using the feedback provided by customers over the years, building up a high level of trust. We listen closely to what needs doing on the car, and only carry out work which is strictly necessary.
It is not uncommon for us to see a third-generation member of a family that has been using us over the decades. Also, if people are visiting friends and relatives in Olney, and they encounter an issue with their vehicle during their stay, they will direct them to us, even if they are not a customer themselves, such is our positive status in the town.
A lot of our technicians have also been working at the garage for many years, and we have a very low rate of staff turnover, so they are a familiar face when customers bring their car in, and are on first name terms with many of them.
We are equally a garage that offers parking for customers, which may not be the case for those in the nearby towns of Milton Keynes and Bedford. This of course takes away the pressure of having to find a space when vehicles come into us for a service or MOT.
Finally, the added little touches, such as giving customers a lift, and sitting down to have a chat with them about their hobbies and interests, when their car is in with us, goes a long way in helping to build that all-important loyal relationship. We do supply courtesy cars to help keep customers mobile, such as young parents with children, which is particularly helpful if we are waiting for parts to come in, and can’t repair a car straightaway. We’re looking to invest in growing the fleet of courtesy cars next year.
TMO: Are many of your customers local, or do some travel from further afield, given your excellent reputation in the area?
CG: We do have a strong local customer base, but for some who have moved beyond Olney, they will then make the journey back especially to use our garage, which is a credit to what we do and the trust that people have in our work and service.
TMO: What does a typical day look like for you at Soul Garages?
CG: I tend to come into the garage three days a week, where I look at how the business is doing from a performance perspective. I will also spend time on the phone to customers, and go out to see them when I can.
It’s also important to spend time with our technicians to find out how they are, and what they are up to beyond the garage, in terms of their hobbies, and where they are heading off on holiday. By having a chat, you can get a sense if something is not right, which gives you a chance to address any issues, and determine the right course of action.
Ultimately, I have a Managing Director who runs the business day-to-day, and I work closely with him to manage the strategy and direction of the business.
We like to put on social events for our staff, such as clay pigeon shooting, and take advantage of nearby activities and attractions in recognition of their hard work.
TMO: What are the main services that you provide to motorists?
CG: We offer servicing and MOTs, as well as repairs relating to tyres and exhausts, diesel particular filters (DPFs), and diagnostics. We have also expanded into the area of wet belts, which differs to what other garages provide in the local area.
TMO: With the current strain on the finances of motorists, do you see many choosing to put off repairs to save money?
CG: We are fortunate to work in a region, where the local demographic has been relatively affluent for some time. However, with new people moving into the town, who are not originally from Olney, we are seeing more customers make purchases on a credit basis, and we have just introduced a facility to help spread out repair costs, over days to months.
We are also noticing customers sometimes questioning the high cost of parts, which have gone up due to inflationary price rises. People are therefore now more inclined to shop around before making that all-important purchasing decision.
TMO: Are you seeing more electric vehicles coming in for servicing and repairs, and have you conducted more staff training in this area?
CG: The Milton Keynes area has one of highest density of electric vehicles (EVs), and there are also headquarters of vehicle manufacturers local to us. All technicians at Soul Garages are trained on EV maintenance and repairs up to Level 3, and we hope to get a dedicated bay for electric vehicles in two years’ time, including on-site charging.
However, working on EVs is not a service that we actively promote, as there is not enough traction as yet to undertake work where changing components is involved.
TMO: How busy does your garage get?
CG: Customers need to book around two weeks in advance to have any repairs or work done on their car. As we operate with a pretty full schedule, we are looking to expand what we do by taking on another mechanic, and we like to think we have a very attractive proposition, and look after our employees – a package which includes a competitive salary, a fully equipped kitchen, and company-purchased meals on a Friday.
However, as with other garages, we are finding it very difficult to recruit, and this takes up a lot of our time – it’s an ongoing task. We either have no applicants or the wrong ones when we advertise, and we are also having to compete with franchise dealers in the local area.
We would like to think that, in 18 months’ time, we will have a couple of apprentices who are qualified in the trade, but may not necessarily have any experience at this point.
Apprentices however, have to be the right ‘all-rounders’ who are happy to work on traditional petrol and diesel cars, and will be happy to change a head gasket for example, instead of purely focusing on new technology, and those vehicles that are electric. Of course, we do have to get people ready for the shift to battery power, and to what’s coming down the road.
TMO: How do you look to minimise your impact on the environment, and what green measures do you have in place?
CG: Minimising our impact is an important focus of ours. We are constant observers in this space, so that we can always improve how we manage and control waste from the work that we do at Soul Garages. We use regulated and certified collections for waste engine oil, and used tyres are collected by an authorised disposal business, as are old batteries, for example. Everything is disposed of in line with regulations.
In addition, we use segregate bins for normal waste, and lights are turned off when we’re not on site, which is just from Monday to Friday, which means that we can let the building ‘breathe’ over the weekend.
As mentioned before, we also buy things locally where we can, such as our branded clothing, to reduce miles travelled, which is no doubt a positive for the environment.
TMO: What is your outlook for the service and repair sector in 2025/6?
CG: The recent government changes for national insurance and tax have certainly had an impact and caused a slowdown in what we can do as a business, and how we grow. We currently employ two sub-contractors, as well as 11 full-time staff. Currently, freelance employees are far more cost effective for us. It’s all about finding the right people for Soul Garages at the end of the day.
Looking ahead, we have to be very strategic when it comes to investing. We are fortunate to have a big site, which means that there is room to expand and to choose how we use the space. Nevertheless, we do have a budget, and therefore, it is dependent on achieving the necessary turnover and profit to make this happen.
TMO: What were the key drivers for Soul Garages gaining accreditation to The Motor Ombudsman’s Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair, and how do you actively promote this to motorists?
CG: Accreditation of The Motor Ombudsman’s Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair gives us an even higher level of credibility in the eyes of customers. We actively promote this on our website, local marketing publications, and via our point of sale material in our reception area. It’s a great accolade to have, and even our customers are thanking us for being signed up, and are helping to spread this positive message for us.
TMO: What do you like to do in your free time away from Soul Garages?
CG: I’m a big Rugby Union fan, and we have a big local team here in Olney, which I support when time permits. I also enjoy spending time with my family, and cooking dishes from scratch.
Interview conducted in August 2025.