How to keep operations smooth in winter
Tim Benson, Oldfields Garage owner, and Sanjiv Shah, the Car Spares Factors owner, share how preparation, discipline and strong team culture keep operations running smoothly through winter pressures.
Tim Benson
Oldfields Garage Owner
Winter can expose all the weak points in a workshop: colder starts, more electrical gremlins, and a rush of urgent jobs, which all seem to arrive together. It is easy to blame the season and accept a slip in standards. At Oldfields, we do not see winter as a significant problem because we prepare, we prioritise, and we protect the diary.
We keep the workshop warm and the doors closed as much as is practical. It’s a nicer environment to work in. The real battle, though, is cleanliness. Wet conditions bring mud, grit and salt into every bay, and the floor could turn into an ice rink if we let it. The answer is simple: housekeeping. Mats at entrances, absorbent granules to hand, thinking about how to contain the mess, and short resets through the day so the place never descends into chaos. A tidy workshop is faster and safer, especially in winter.
Responsiveness matters most when customers depend on their car to get to work and keep their family moving. We operate what some would describe as a triage, to identify safety issues and mobility cases – what is the priority? Our customer grading system then earns its keep. Loyal clients and fleets with compliance deadlines are prioritised because they rely on us most. That clarity removes debate and keeps turnaround at its optimum.
The diary is set to protect service levels; we do not overbook, and we carry a buffer for genuine emergencies. Front of house is aware of that buffer, and we aim to secure approvals early, so technicians don’t have to wait for a call back. Sickness, thankfully, isn’t a big issue for us, but we try to cross-train staff so they can step in when necessary, moving between areas of skill sets to support operations without fuss.
Prevention is the understated hero of winter efficiency. Every vehicle gets a detailed inspection on every visit; for example, we test batteries on every job, because a weak battery is a breakdown waiting to happen. It’s one of the most common causes of winter issues.
Faults found early are scheduled sensibly, parts are lined up, and the emergency list shrinks.
This is how we stay on top. Customers see a calm, tidy and capable team. Cars come back on time, reputations rise, and the season proves our process rather than breaking it. Winter is a test we plan to pass.
Sanjiv Shah
Car Spares Factors Owner
Winter often brings higher sickness absence and stretched resources, but rather than battling reduced manpower during the coldest season, here at CSF we boast remarkable staffing stability. This reality is a key reason the business consistently delivers a rapid, reliable service to garages, fleet managers and mobile mechanics helping them keep their own customers’ vehicles on the road when it matters most.
In 2025, we recorded just 40 sick days across our 70-strong workforce – an impressively low figure across any industry. This is attributed to our culture of trust and commitment; when team members do call in sick, it’s always for legitimate reasons. This forms the foundation for maintaining consistent service levels throughout the year.
A major factor in this strong attendance is strategic holiday planning. Employees generally take their annual leave during quieter periods, such as Christmas, helping to safeguard staffing levels during the demanding winter months. This proactive approach reduces sickness spread and supports overall team wellbeing.
Loyalty also plays a vital role. Half of the team have been with us for more than a decade, fostering a deeply rooted sense of responsibility and pride in their work. This long-term retention contributes to operational stability and ensures the workforce understands the importance of delivering dependable service.
Beyond loyalty and planning, our teams are adaptable. Call centre staff can seamlessly cover branches experiencing absence, and warehouse operatives are equipped to manage deliveries if required. This multi-functional approach ensures that no single point of absence disrupts customer service or turnaround times.
Our deliberate decision to maintain what might be described as ‘overstaffing’ further cushions the business against any unexpected shortages. This staffing model guarantees that we can uphold our high standards.
Together, these factors enable us to meet and exceed customer expectations throughout winter – delivering fast, efficient service when it matters most and reinforcing a reputation for reliability.
