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Right, I have run this post by a Mod who said it's cool to post the thread up here. I posted it over on CA yesterday and have since kindly had it proof read and tweaked my very dear retired legal secretary mother, who is like an English machine.
I can finally say I'm working/trading independently of my old Boss as 'KS Motor Services'. I still do a little for for him and have access to his wheel balancer and tyre changing equipment. All I have to do is pay for the weights and sundries I use as well as buy him the odd beer.
A bit about me.
I'm actually a carpenter by trade, though I was trained as an engineer at college. I just followed my father into the building trade as the work was there and it seemed like a good idea as I quite enjoy construction work. I learnt all my carpentry skills from my Father who is a classically trained carpenter and joiner and a very well regarded contractor in my area, though he is now technically retired. He still goes to work every, he genuinely loves what he does, just finds the customers hard work. Cut roofs on old out of square buildings are my speciality by the way.
I worked in the building trade for 15 years, initially with my father but for the last 7 years I ran my own business, though we often did work together. Three years ago I did some construction work for a very good friend, the work entailed expanding his auto work shop, installing the new ramp, doors, stud work etc. He's a VAG specialist based in Hay-on-Wye, trades as 'Hay Cars', and has been in the motor trade for well over ten years. Very good mechanic/engineer by the way. Whilst I was there doing the building work I often helped with tricky jobs on customers cars, especially older Audi's and VW's as I have good working knowledge of these vehicles.
Working on cars has been my hobby since I started driving over 16 years ago, and I'd been working on motocross bikes since I was 12. After getting ripped off by Halfords on the rear brakes of my first car, an early 1.3 MK II Golf, I vowed to learn to do everything on my own cars myself. So over the years I have built up the tools and skills to tackle any job properly. I have even constructed myself a very nice workshop with pit, proper work bench, vice, welder, compressor etc. And have been buying cars to fix and sell etc for over 10 years.
Anyway to cut to the chase I found I enjoyed working for Hay Cars more enjoyable than building and thought sod it I'll do this for a while even though the money's not as good. I only had a couple of little building jobs to finish up and nothing major in the pipe line. This was around the time no one wanted to spend any money on building projects due to the global financial mayhem. So I worked there for over two years and picked up a lot more useful practical Knowledge of all vehicles not just VAG stuff. I built up a few engines from scratch while I was there, did a very involved job in rebuilding/revising a 2.0 8V TSR engine for a MK II Golf rally car, loved that job.
So I have now set up my own accounts with TPS, several local factors as well as the Snap-on man and am working for myself under the name 'KS Motor Services'. I'm based near Brecon but am also more than happy to travel to jobs. At the moment I'm doing a few services and cam-belts etc a week as well as breaking a couple of cars. I work on all models of cars but prefer VAG stuff and wish one day to specialise in these vehicles, in particular restoring/repairing older stuff as well as doing fabrication and tuning work.
For now though I can't be fussy as I'm building up the funds to have my own ramp, either in my own unit or quite possibly back at 'Hay Cars'. My old boss has offered me an incomplete workshop/bay that I built for him, its just a concrete slab with walls and roof at the moment. It was going to be his spray booth but he has since decided to build that in another area of his yard. So it won't be long before I have my own premises. For now I'm working out of my home workshop, which is fine and well equipped but I'm limited on space for customers cars as well as my own.
I have VAGCOM and software for all VAG cars 1990-2011.
I will offer a £5 an hour discount on my normal rate to forum members, all work will be properly invoiced and be guaranteed for at least six months depending on the job.
My public liability insurance will be in order this week, I have cover at the moment but that relates more to the building trade.
I'm not VAT registered.
I've done work for a couple of Forum members already but would welcome more jobs. Also I'm happy to sort out niggly problems and stuff general garages aren't interested in either doing or getting right.
PM me for more details or a quote on work.
I can finally say I'm working/trading independently of my old Boss as 'KS Motor Services'. I still do a little for for him and have access to his wheel balancer and tyre changing equipment. All I have to do is pay for the weights and sundries I use as well as buy him the odd beer.
A bit about me.
I'm actually a carpenter by trade, though I was trained as an engineer at college. I just followed my father into the building trade as the work was there and it seemed like a good idea as I quite enjoy construction work. I learnt all my carpentry skills from my Father who is a classically trained carpenter and joiner and a very well regarded contractor in my area, though he is now technically retired. He still goes to work every, he genuinely loves what he does, just finds the customers hard work. Cut roofs on old out of square buildings are my speciality by the way.
I worked in the building trade for 15 years, initially with my father but for the last 7 years I ran my own business, though we often did work together. Three years ago I did some construction work for a very good friend, the work entailed expanding his auto work shop, installing the new ramp, doors, stud work etc. He's a VAG specialist based in Hay-on-Wye, trades as 'Hay Cars', and has been in the motor trade for well over ten years. Very good mechanic/engineer by the way. Whilst I was there doing the building work I often helped with tricky jobs on customers cars, especially older Audi's and VW's as I have good working knowledge of these vehicles.
Working on cars has been my hobby since I started driving over 16 years ago, and I'd been working on motocross bikes since I was 12. After getting ripped off by Halfords on the rear brakes of my first car, an early 1.3 MK II Golf, I vowed to learn to do everything on my own cars myself. So over the years I have built up the tools and skills to tackle any job properly. I have even constructed myself a very nice workshop with pit, proper work bench, vice, welder, compressor etc. And have been buying cars to fix and sell etc for over 10 years.
Anyway to cut to the chase I found I enjoyed working for Hay Cars more enjoyable than building and thought sod it I'll do this for a while even though the money's not as good. I only had a couple of little building jobs to finish up and nothing major in the pipe line. This was around the time no one wanted to spend any money on building projects due to the global financial mayhem. So I worked there for over two years and picked up a lot more useful practical Knowledge of all vehicles not just VAG stuff. I built up a few engines from scratch while I was there, did a very involved job in rebuilding/revising a 2.0 8V TSR engine for a MK II Golf rally car, loved that job.
So I have now set up my own accounts with TPS, several local factors as well as the Snap-on man and am working for myself under the name 'KS Motor Services'. I'm based near Brecon but am also more than happy to travel to jobs. At the moment I'm doing a few services and cam-belts etc a week as well as breaking a couple of cars. I work on all models of cars but prefer VAG stuff and wish one day to specialise in these vehicles, in particular restoring/repairing older stuff as well as doing fabrication and tuning work.
For now though I can't be fussy as I'm building up the funds to have my own ramp, either in my own unit or quite possibly back at 'Hay Cars'. My old boss has offered me an incomplete workshop/bay that I built for him, its just a concrete slab with walls and roof at the moment. It was going to be his spray booth but he has since decided to build that in another area of his yard. So it won't be long before I have my own premises. For now I'm working out of my home workshop, which is fine and well equipped but I'm limited on space for customers cars as well as my own.
I have VAGCOM and software for all VAG cars 1990-2011.
I will offer a £5 an hour discount on my normal rate to forum members, all work will be properly invoiced and be guaranteed for at least six months depending on the job.
My public liability insurance will be in order this week, I have cover at the moment but that relates more to the building trade.
I'm not VAT registered.
I've done work for a couple of Forum members already but would welcome more jobs. Also I'm happy to sort out niggly problems and stuff general garages aren't interested in either doing or getting right.
PM me for more details or a quote on work.
nice to hear that you are spreading your wings and getting out of the employee status(within the motor trade) I wish you and your business all the very best for the future!!!
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