A Watford resident’s decision to buy his own vehicle repair franchise after growing disillusioned with his corporate job has paid dividends, owing to a coveted business award nomination and chalking up impressive financial returns.

Led by owner Tim Byrne, Revive! Watford, which operates out of a UK-wide franchise network, has been recognised as one of the best start-up businesses in the county after being shortlisted in the Best New Business category at the SME Hertfordshire Business Awards. Tim and the team are set to discover whether they have won the overall prize at a ceremony at Tewin Bury Farm Hotel on 14 September 2023.

The judges were particularly impressed with Revive! Watford’s rapid financial growth, which has seen the firm generate more than £275,000 since launching in July 2022. This early success enabled Tim to double his team of repair technicians from 2 to 4 within the business’s first year of trading.

Revive! Watford’s strong financial growth can be credited to putting customer service at the front and centre of the business model – highlighted by the firm’s TrustPilot reviews, with 100% of customers rating the service as excellent or good. 

Tim, a father of two, has spent his whole career in the vehicle repair industry, starting as an apprentice panel beater straight out of school. He worked at a series of independent bodyshops near Watford before joining a major vehicle repair firm in 2006.

The initial idea to launch his own business came in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in November 2020, when Tim was threatened with redundancy from his position as regional manager. This, alongside having to inform many members of his team that there would no longer be a job for them at the company, made him reconsider his career trajectory.

Tim commented: “I was in a senior position at a large company, managing a team of 45 people. I had a good salary and a company car – things I considered to be marks of success. But after seeing how dispensable I really was, and having to preside over redundancies, I realised the corporate world wasn’t as stable as I first thought. 

“Not to say leaving my job was an easy decision, but after a few sleepless nights I realised that I wanted to take control of my own destiny and make a success of my own business, being able to treat my employees and customers the way I would want to be treated.”

“Since launching in the summer of last year, it has been hard work, but it has certainly been worth it. It feels so much more rewarding to build something I can put my name on and succeed on my own terms.

“I’d like to thank my team for their hard work over the last year. All of us are all looking forward to the SME Hertfordshire Business Awards final on 14 September, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for Revive! Watford.”