A mobile vehicle repair business in Aberdeen is transforming how local residents and businesses have their cars serviced. Led by Canadian native Tom Giles, this SMART (small-to-medium-repair-technique) enterprise delivers bodywork and alloy wheel repair services directly at customers’ homes or workplaces, moving away from the traditional bodyshop model.
Just three years after launching, the business – part of Revive!’s successful nationwide franchise network—is on course to generate close to half a million pounds in revenue this year. Despite its success, the journey has been challenging. Tom and one of his technicians, Dean Paterson, sat down to share the story of Revive! Aberdeen, offering insights into the triumphs and trials of working in the vehicle repair trade.
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Drilling into a new career
Before launching his Revive! franchise, Tom had a successful 25-year career in the oil and gas sector. However, in April 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he faced the difficult task of making half of his team of 57 redundant.
Reflecting on this period, Tom said: “I was working long hours and felt stuck on a constant hamster wheel. My work-life balance was poor, and I wasn’t enjoying it – especially after having to let go of so many people during such a challenging time.”
When the opportunity for voluntary redundancies arose in the summer of 2020, Tom seized it and spent two anxious months awaiting confirmation. Once he received the green light, he set his sights on a career change that offered autonomy and a chance to positively impact his community.
Drawn to the idea of a mobile repair business with Revive!, Tom was attracted to its flexibility and the growing demand for convenience he had observed in England. He believed he could successfully bring this model north of the border. By March 2021, his vision of owning a franchise had become a reality, and he was already on the road.
Revive! Aberdeen’s approach is built on three core principles that Tom champions: Convenience, Cost, and Customer Service—the three Cs.
Convenience: In today’s fast-paced world, customers appreciate the ease of having their vehicles repaired at their own location. This service eliminates the need for time off work and arranging alternative transportation. The rise in remote work has also made this repair model more viable for Aberdonians.
Cost: Economic pressures in the city have heightened customers’ price sensitivity. Tom’s mobile business avoids the high overhead costs of traditional bodyshops, enabling him to offer prices up to 40 per cent lower and often below the cost of an insurance excess.
Customer service: The motor trade industry can sometimes suffer from a poor service reputation. Tom’s business stands out by prioritising punctuality and communication. Technicians are trained to call ahead, set clear arrival expectations, and leave their workspace tidy. This dedication to service excellence has earned the business 442 5-star reviews on Trustpilot.
One of the biggest challenges technicians like Dean face is the unpredictable weather in northern Scotland. Despite these conditions, Dean’s advanced IMI training, skill, and adaptability allow him to deliver bodyshop-quality results on a mobile basis. Whether it’s rain, wind, or cold, Dean consistently adapts, often working under temporary shelters or using tarps to protect himself and the vehicle. His resourcefulness and dedication are clear demonstrations of what it takes to excel in this demanding field.
Painting a car outdoors also comes with its own set of unique challenges. Flies and other insects are sometimes attracted to fresh paint and can land on the bodywork, creating imperfections. Dean removes any imperfections with a specialist de-nibbing tool which will remove the contamination leaving the paintwork in faultless condition. This extra vigilance and care taken ensures the paintwork remains pristine despite challenges.
Dean explained: “You have to be prepared for anything. The weather can change in an instant in Scotland, and you need to have the skills and tools to handle it. Plus, dealing with insects landing on wet paint can make things even tougher.”
Due to the increasing demands to tackle larger more complex jobs Tom invested in a Rapid Repair Centre (RRC) in Hillside, just a short drive from the city centre. While primarily remaining a mobile repair business, this strategic move made Revive! Aberdeen the fastest franchise in the network to open its own brick-and-mortar location, enabling them to replicate their summer work during the cold winter months of 2022 and 2023.
Finding skilled technicians is a significant challenge, Tom and Dean agree. Many in the industry, understandably, prefer the warmth of a bodyshop over working in the field. This challenge is exacerbated by a wider industry shortage, with one-third (35 per cent) of bodyshop managers and owners fearing a skills crisis. A poor return on labour charge-out rates paid by motor insurers is driving skilled technicians to other sectors for better pay.
Tom noted: “An ageing technician workforce and insufficient investment in training and apprenticeships have led to a shortage of skilled staff. That’s why I’m so pleased to have Dean and three other technicians, who are not only exceptional painters but also have outstanding customer service skills.”
Indeed, Dean is Revive!’s top technician across the entire UK, generating tens of thousands in business in a single month. Dean also highlighted the challenges of his craft, which he believes is often overlooked by others: “Mechanics have advanced diagnostic tools to identify and fix problems, but bodywork repairs demand a high level of practical skill and attention to detail. People often underestimate the complexity of our work—every detail matters, and there’s no room for error when it comes to restoring a car’s finish.”
In addition to serving the public and retail market, Revive! Aberdeen maintains strong relationships and contracts with trade accounts, including car dealerships, fleets and rental providers. Local dealerships make up 44 per cent of Revive! Aberdeen’s customer base with fleets and rental accounts being 20 per cent and the final 36 per cent made up of retail customers. These partnerships have been crucial to the business’s success, providing a valuable source of repeat business alongside their retail work.
Tom commented: “Car bodywork repairs aren’t something customers need frequently, so we usually see our retail clients only once. That’s why building strong relationships with local businesses has been so crucial. Our RRC has also played a key role in expanding this market, enabling us to take on larger jobs for bigger vehicles.”
The future
As Tom and Dean reflect on their journey, they are optimistic about the future. Tom notes: “This venture has been incredibly rewarding, both professionally and personally. We have achieved so much in just three years, and I’m excited to see what the next three years and beyond hold for us. With a robust business model and a commitment to excellence, Revive! Aberdeen is well-positioned for continued growth and success.”
