Cornwall garage owner Tim Ferris reflects on 50 years of change as he prepares to retire
After decades of keeping motorists across Cornwall moving, Ferris Garage owner Tim Ferris is preparing to retire on 30 September, bringing an end to a remarkable legacy for one of the region’s most respected independent workshops.
During a career spanning some of the biggest structural shifts in the automotive aftermarket, Ferris has witnessed the transformation of the independent garage from a purely mechanical trade into a highly technical, digitally connected sector.
“When I started in the trade, if you couldn’t do anything else, you became a mechanic,” said Tim. “Back then, working on British Leyland cars, you could do almost anything with feeler gauges, a hammer, and a chisel. Nowadays, technicians have to be super smart, highly computer-literate, and capable of handling incredible technology.”
Having returned to the family business following a seven-year stint at a British Leyland, Jaguar and Rolls Royce garage, Tim saw first-hand how technology transformed not just vehicle diagnostics, but workshop management.
“When I came back, we had five technicians and four people in the office,” he explains. “Today, with a good computer system, I run five technicians by myself, with my wife just doing a couple of hours a day on the accounts. One person can efficiently manage a full workshop now.”
Alongside operational technology, Ferris credits staff retention for his business's longevity. Despite widespread skills shortages, Ferris Garage maintained remarkably low turnover by investing in apprenticeships, fair treatment, and monthly team ‘treat days’.
Pioneering EV servicing and filtering for high-value work
Tim’s willingness to adapt was demonstrated through his early move into electric vehicle servicing. In 2014/15, while many independent garages remained hesitant, Ferris Garage invested in high-voltage training and equipment.
The decision followed the garage’s exit from breakdown and recovery work, which had historically fed the workshop.
“We needed a new way to pull in work,” said Tim. “My theory back then was that families would keep a long-distance petrol or diesel car, plus a small electric runabout for local trips. I figured if we could win their EV business, we’d get the rest of their family fleet too.”
The strategy paid off. Becoming an EV driver himself in 2018 gave Tim hands-on experience, establishing Ferris Garage as a trusted authority for hybrid and EV drivers across Cornwall.
“We started pulling EV work from all over the county,” he notes. “In recent years, the balance between customers and garages has shifted tremendously. Rather than chasing work, we’ve been in the comfortable position of being able to filter out lower-margin jobs and focus strictly on the work we actually want to do.”
The exit strategy
With no family successor lined up, Tim mapped out a five-year exit strategy to unlock the asset value of his freehold plot in his historic village, where his roots date back to the 1600s.
After putting the business on the market for two years to satisfy local planning criteria, and receiving just a single inquiry, Tim submitted plans to redevelop the site into five residential homes, one of which will become his personal residence.
“I still believe there will always be a place for a good independent garage, provided owners stay on top of training, technology, and treat their customers well,” said Tim. “Redeveloping the land was the right exit strategy for us.”
As he prepares to step away on 30 September, Tim plans to return to his passions for travel and tango dancing with his wife.
“When I was 20, I drove two Minis around the world for charity, and there are places I’m itching to return to,” he said. “Heading down to Buenos Aires and exploring South America is right at the top of the list.”