EP 33: Barry Lawson - Transforming the Scottish Motor Trade
Fri Aug 15 2025
“Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.”
In the latest episode of the Harmonic Motion podcast, Barry Lawson joins James in an open discussion on what being an independent garage owner in Scotland looks like.
After leaving the dealer network, Barry joined the family business, Lawson Autotech, with his Dad. With just the two of them, they had to become business managers as well as technicians to keep the ship running smoothly; a story other small garage owners know all too well.
What pulled Barry out of this routine was networking. Connecting with other garage owners showed him he wasn’t alone in the issues he faced and this reassurance lifted a huge weight off his shoulders.
Now, Barry has transformed the garage into a highly successful, 9 staff operation. Learning from others, he’s scaled the business using techniques that underpin his core values and allow him to provide the best service possible. Lawson Autotech has undergone the controversial transition to the 4 day working week. Barry shares what the real-world implementation looks like and the outstanding impact it’s had on the business and workforce.
Wanting to give back to the industry, Barry is hosting his very own networking event in Scotland. Designed for independent garage owners, technicians and staff, the Thistle Auto Revival event unites the independent garage sector across Scotland, providing an opportunity to connect, learn and network.
Thistle Auto Revival
Inglewood House & Spa
Saturday 7th February 2026
Join us at Thistle Auto Revival for a day of networking for the independent garage owner, and good vibes!
Find out more and buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thistle-auto-revival-tickets-1112416320159?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawIFi3ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcAgboD2xa44MUguMa19pCVYbFucYjZMxv9Vv3z2h177iAKwVvzbEauGBA_aem_R3QFRMTdTPN9NktvVfMbwQ
Barry Lawson:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LawsonAutotech/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsonautotech/
Website: https://lawsonautotech.co.uk/
Harmonic Motion Podcast
Join the community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/
Find more episodes: https://techtopics.co.uk/harmonic-motion-podcast/
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast
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“Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” In the latest episode of the Harmonic Motion podcast, Barry Lawson joins James in an open discussion on what being an independent garage owner in Scotland looks like. After leaving the dealer network, Barry joined the family business, Lawson Autotech, with his Dad. With just the two of them, they had to become business managers as well as technicians to keep the ship running smoothly; a story other small garage owners know all too well. What pulled Barry out of this routine was networking. Connecting with other garage owners showed him he wasn’t alone in the issues he faced and this reassurance lifted a huge weight off his shoulders. Now, Barry has transformed the garage into a highly successful, 9 staff operation. Learning from others, he’s scaled the business using techniques that underpin his core values and allow him to provide the best service possible. Lawson Autotech has undergone the controversial transition to the 4 day working week. Barry shares what the real-world implementation looks like and the outstanding impact it’s had on the business and workforce. Wanting to give back to the industry, Barry is hosting his very own networking event in Scotland. Designed for independent garage owners, technicians and staff, the Thistle Auto Revival event unites the independent garage sector across Scotland, providing an opportunity to connect, learn and network. Thistle Auto Revival Inglewood House & Spa Saturday 7th February 2026 Join us at Thistle Auto Revival for a day of networking for the independent garage owner, and good vibes! Find out more and buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/thistle-auto-revival-tickets-1112416320159?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawIFi3ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHcAgboD2xa44MUguMa19pCVYbFucYjZMxv9Vv3z2h177iAKwVvzbEauGBA_aem_R3QFRMTdTPN9NktvVfMbwQ Barry Lawson: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LawsonAutotech/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawsonautotech/ Website: https://lawsonautotech.co.uk/ Harmonic Motion Podcast Join the community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/549573740317836/ Find more episodes: https://techtopics.co.uk/harmonic-motion-podcast/ Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/@theharmonicmotionpodcast