Protyre News
Ellie and Mandy Tackle ‘Garage Anxiety’ for Sheffield Motorists
By Julia Freeman
We’re proud to support Sheffield’s female motorists and help combat the fear of being misled or oversold when bringing vehicles in for repairs.
Ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day (March 8), our team members Mandy Mosley and Ellie Holmes are raising awareness of our efforts to tackle ‘Garage Anxiety’—the worry that customers may be overcharged or sold unnecessary repairs when visiting a garage.
Mandy and Ellie, who manage our Protyre Autocare garages Sharrow Vale and Chapeltown, know that female customers can sometimes feel nervous about asking questions in a traditionally male-dominated environment. Just seeing a friendly female face can put them at ease and make the experience much more comfortable.
They’ve also shared their experiences dealing with outdated perceptions of women’s knowledge and expertise in automotive roles, and how we’ve supported their career ambitions.
We regularly campaign to tackle Garage Anxiety as part of our commitment to being approachable and inclusive for all customers—both male and female.
Ellie, 25, is an assistant manager at our Sharrow Vale centre. She started as an admin assistant and has already worked her way up to assistant manager after just two years with us.
“One of the best things about my job is making other women feel comfortable when they come into the garage. Many arrive looking nervous about asking questions, but when they see a female face, they relax. Having that female presence really helps, and it’s a role I’m happy to have,” Ellie says.
“Protyre Autocare is a company that helps you further your career—you can fit in easily and do really well, and it’s a really nice workforce."
“This was my first role in the automotive sector after working in admin. I’d absolutely like to be a manager in the future—the rest of the team are helping me understand the mechanical side of the job, which means I can explain things to customers much more easily.”
Mandy, 59, is centre manager at our Chapeltown centre, a role she’s held for the last seven years. She’s worked with us for 20 years, previously holding accounts and mobile retail roles for the business formerly known as Hawleys Tyres, which joined Protyre Autocare in 2015.
Protyre Chapeltown has won three awards under Mandy’s leadership, including one for being the best-performing centre in our network.
Mandy says: “I totally agree with Ellie’s outlook on our female customers. Many feel more comfortable talking to a woman, and 90 percent of my customers are repeat customers.
“We also have women technicians in our team, so it’s a really positive environment for females. I pride myself on being honest—it’s all about ‘show and tell’ and just advising customers on what they need, rather than trying to oversell or rip them off.
“It’s definitely a good career for women. There are times when men come into the garage, see me, and ask for one of the men to answer a question about their car. They can be quite surprised when they realise I know the answer!”
Mandy admits her role developed quickly from one she wasn’t initially keen on.
“To be honest, when I first came here, I never wanted to take the job! I wasn’t used to being on the shop floor, but our Area Manager said he really wanted me here, as I’d be ideal for the role,” she adds.
“I’m glad I did, because I absolutely love it. I’m a very customer-focused person and take real pride in my work. My customers and my phone line are my bread and butter.”
