Cory Smith | Amy Smith | Gavin Riddell | Jorge Picarra | Robin Greenaway | Leah Smith
Andy Harris | Brian Summerfield
Cory Smith
Position: Director
Qualifications/Training:
- City & Guilds 1,2 & 3
- NVQ Level 2 in Light Vehicle Repair
- Numerous Vocational Training Courses
Achievements:
- Student of the Year 1992 – Tile Hill College, Coventry.
- Semi-Finals of the National Automotive Technician of the Year Awards 1992.
- Runner-Up, Young Business Venture of the Year Award 2001.
Responsibilities: Cory handles the day-to-day running of the business. His main roles include looking after customers, pricing, job scheduling, record keeping, parts ordering, staff training, and marketing. He also runs the online shop and still has time for some vehicle repairs, servicing, tyre fitting, batteries, exhausts, MOT repairs, auto electrics, welding, tracking and diagnostics.
Background: Cory started his own business in 1998 with the help of The Prince’s Trust. He had noticed that employees in the motor industry were often treated badly and that customers were routinely deceived, lied to, cheated and misled.
Cory believes strongly that we should treat others the way we would have them treat us, and he felt that this ethos seemed to be sadly lacking during his previous garage jobs. So with a second-hand van and a toolkit he started his mobile car repair business.
As time went on and his business grew, customers began to spread the word that Cory was a man of real integrity. They talked about his passion for doing a great job, his sheer enthusiasm for helping his customers and his clear talent and ability. Cory has built the business from scratch through determination and hard work to become the most respected garage in Rugby.
His aim in business is always total customer satisfaction. He always invests in the best tools and equipment, employs highly skilled and passionate staff, and insists upon the latest training to keep everyone up-to-date.
Cory says, “If you are unhappy with anything at all about my business, I want to know personally and you are very welcome to call me direct on the mobile number at the top of the website – I care about my customers.”
Amy Smith
Position: Director
Responsibilities: Amy and Cory have been together since 2003. They got married in 2009. Amy spends a lot of her time during the day looking after their 2 boys and fits her business duties around that which means she often works very long hours. Not that she ever complains about it; she is very proud of Cory and what they are achieving together.
Whilst Amy and Cory make all the major decisions for the business jointly and she still contributes some of her time to the garage, she now has her own business, My Treats to run too.
Amy has a flair for design and marketing; she designed our logo our signs outside and some of the leaflets and advertisements we publish. She has also had experience helping her dad who runs Tony Lester Philatelic Auctions.
One of Amy’s passions is charity fundraising and she loves being able to incorporate that into the business.
She was responsible for the addition of the Help for Heroes campaign to this website.
Amy says, “We’ve built a great team of people here so that we can offer truly outstanding customer service and build a sustainable business that one day we can hand over to our children”.
Gavin Riddell “The Mad Scientist”
Position: Technician
Qualifications/Training:
- City & Guilds 1,2 & 3
- First Diploma
- Numerous Vocational and Manufacturer Training Courses
Responsibilities: Gavin’s roles includes vehicle repairs, servicing, tyre fitting, batteries, exhausts, MOT repairs, auto electrics, welding, tracking and diagnostics. He also deputises for Cory in his absence.
Background: Gavin’s experience in the motor industry is extensive. He studied at college in both Leamington and Coventry and then served an apprenticeship at Vauxhall in Coventry.
From there he went on to work as a senior technician for several garages in areas including general repairs and servicing, tyres, exhausts, MOTs and even bodywork.
His wealth of experience includes working on prestigious marques like BMW, Jaguar, Audi and Mercedes.
His flair is for diagnostics and fault finding – especially with engine management systems, on-board computers, CAN-bus systems and general auto electrics. Known affectionately by his colleagues as “The Mad Scientist”, it has been suggested that Gavin would plug a laptop into his packed lunch to analyse it’s nutritional value if only there was a socket on it.
Gavin has been passionate about speed and power since he was a boy building Lego cars. That passion developed into go-karting, motorbikes and track days. Today the cars are bigger, the challenges more complex and the ‘projects’ seriously ambitious.
Gavin says, “I would love to take an old BMW e30 and drop an M5 V10 into it.”
Jorge Picarra “O Doutor Dos Motores” (The Engine Doctor)
Position: Technician
Qualifications/Training:
Numerous Vocational and Manufacturer Training Courses
Responsibilities: Jorge’s roles includes vehicle repairs, servicing, tyre fitting, batteries, exhausts, MOT repairs, auto electrics, welding, tracking and diagnostics.
Background: Before coming to the UK in 2002, Jorge spent 7 years working for Honda and another 7 years working for Mitsubishi; both in his native Portugal. Whilst there he was the manager of 6 technical staff at a Honda franchise. When the business grew and added a Mitsubishi franchise to its portfolio, Jorge took on the same managerial and technical role in the new Mitsubishi franchise.
Jorge has been with us since 2006 and has over 30 years experience in the car industry. He loves working with engines. Give him an engine that needs stripping down to the crankshaft and rebuilding and his eyes light up like a child on Christmas morning. His talents also include body repairs, having spent several years in a bodyshop.
A consummate and highly competent professional, Jorge is never happier than when he is surrounded by piston rings, camshafts, inlet manifolds, con-rods, fuel injectors, crank cases and thrust bearings.
Jorge says, “I love everything about working on cars, but give me an engine to repair and I’ll be smiling all day long.”
Robin Greenaway “The Incredible Weldini”
Position: Technician
Qualifications/Training:
- Apprenticeship at Wellingborough College
- City & Guilds with Credits
- Numerous Vocational Training Courses
Responsibilities: Robin’s roles includes vehicle repairs, servicing, tyre fitting, batteries, exhausts, MOT repairs, auto electrics, welding, tracking and diagnostics.
Background: With over 30 years experience as a mechanic, Robin has a wealth of knowledge, though he says there is always something new to learn. His experience includes working on commercial vehicles, roadside breakdowns, MOT testing and Class 1 HGV driving. He is a very proficient and talented welder, though at the moment he cannot weld due to an eye injury.
His own BMW 3 series has done 217,000 miles and is in A1 condition. He says he knows every single nut and bolt on it.
Like every one of the technicians at Cory’s Car Repairs, Robin is a real petrol-head; this year he has booked himself a Ferrari driving experience at Silverstone (though he is very disappointed that Silverstone’s Ferrari is blue and not red).
He also says one of his ambitions is to drive the famous Nordschleife Circuit at the Nurburgring in Germany – you know, the one where Jeremy Clarkson was beaten by a girl!
Robin says, “I would love to race Cory’s Audi Project Car at Santa Pod Once it’s finished.”
Leah Smith
Position: Secretary/Receptionist
Qualifications/Training:
- RSA Levels 1, 2 and 3 in ICT
- Word, Excel and Garage Assistant
- General Office Duties Training
Responsibilities: Leah is responsible for a whole host of customer support activities. She ensures visitors are comfortable when they arrive and gives them lead times for any work that is being carried out.
She says garages can be a very male-oriented environment, so she enjoys making things a little less daunting for Cory’s female customers. She laughs when she tells you “Until I started working for Cory, I always thought a CAT was something you had to feed and let out at night”.
Leah is constantly learning new terms used in the industry and about different car parts so she can explain them to women. She says “Women generally feel very daunted by going to a garage and have a perception that they are going to be blagged and blinded with technical information that they don’t understand.” Leah is building up her knowledge so that she can make them feel more comfortable about asking questions. She translates information in a way that is easier to understand.
Leah makes a visit to the garage less boring for the kids too by giving them the remote control for the TV in reception so they can watch kids channels while waiting for mum or dad to get the car fixed.
Leah’s administrative tasks include: parts ordering, invoicing, data entry into ‘Garage Assistant’ software, preparing quotes, handling enquiries, processing orders from the online shop, sending out reminders and general office and reception work.
Background: Leah is Cory’s sister. Cory describes Leah as his “right hand woman” and Leah cannot put into words how proud she is of Cory. She is very proud of how he has built up the business and how he is always true to his word.
Leah says, ‘Come in, sit down and have a cup of coffee.’
Andy Harris “Little End”
Position: Technician
Qualifications/Training:
- City & Guilds Level 3 from Leamington College
- Numerous Vocational and Manufacturer Training Courses
- Training includes HGVs, Diggers, Power Boats and Compressors
Responsibilities: Andy’s roles includes vehicle repairs, servicing, tyre fitting, batteries, exhausts, MOT repairs, auto electrics, welding, tracking and diagnostics.
Background: Andy started working at Cory’s in 2008, and has recently returned after 12 months off following an operation. A fully qualified mechanic since 2008, he has worked at various garages including main dealers since leaving school. He says that at other garages he was always told to “hurry up and get it done”, but Cory always says, “take your time, do it right and double check everything”.
Andy is very proud when he talks about Cory’s Car Repairs. He’ll tell you that Cory’s is the best place he has ever worked and that everyone is friendly and Cory is a very understanding boss. He adds that Cory respects all of his staff and they all respect him.
Andy started working on cars at an early age with his dad. He bought his first car when he was 14 and was always taking it apart and putting it back together. He loves engines and the power aspect of cars.
Andy says, “I love a challenge.”
Brian Summerfield “Split Pin”
Position: Technician
Qualifications/Training:
- City & Guilds Level 1, 2 and 3
- NVQ Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance & Repair
- Modern Apprenticeship
- Service Technician Training
- Climate Control Systems
- Digital Motor Electronics
- Electrical Diagnosis
- Bus Technology & Programming
- BMW Engine Technology
- Central Body Electronics
- Automotive Technician Accreditation
Responsibilities: Brian’s roles includes vehicle repairs, servicing, tyre fitting, batteries, exhausts, MOT repairs, auto electrics, tracking and diagnostics.
Background: Brian started at Cory’s in August 2010. He has been a mechanic for 11 years since leaving school. His wealth of experience includes working at Land Rover, BMW and Mercedes.
The numerous training courses he has completed include air conditioning, engine management systems (both petrol and diesel) and electrical diagnostics.
Amazingly, Brian says that many main dealers don’t have all the specialist tools needed (even for their own cars), where Cory’s does. He goes on to say that unlike some other places he could mention, a lot of thought has gone into the running of the workshop at Cory’s. All the latest, tools, equipment, software, technical data and experience are always on hand for him and his colleagues.
Brian loves a spot of off-road quad biking in his spare time.
Brian says, “Bring it along and we’ll get it fixed.”
