New Member Profile

COVID-19 GOOD NEWS STORY

BY ROBERT LAIDLAW

Mitchell Pope’s career path has taken a positive step, thanks ironically to a negative consequence of COVID-19, which led to the creation of MP Mechanical Tyres & Auto.

While working through his apprenticeship as a mechanic with the MTA, Mitchell was honing his trade with Stillwell Kia, a company he planned to work with long term, but then the pandemic hit and life started to change for the 23-year-old.

“I was hosted throughout my apprenticeship by Stillwell Kia, which was purchased by City Holden in April/May last year,” Mitchell said.

“Stillwell’s was bought during the middle of COVID-19, which made finding new employment challenging. I was fortunate enough to have a basic set-up at home that allowed me to work on vehicles on the ground.

“I registered the business name MP Mechanical Tyres & Auto and created an ABN, as I had a small clientele of around 10-15 customers. I created Instagram and Facebook pages, then began advertising.

“Gradually the business built up and by October last year I was out of room at home and began looking for a workshop locally, which would suit my needs.”

After around a month, in early November 2020, Mitchell secured a lease at Edinburgh North and started the transition into his new workshop, where he was working three to four days a week. By February this year, MP Mechanical Tyres & Auto was operating full-time.

“Last year was challenging – I lost my job and spent all of my savings on a workshop bond and start up tools,” Mitchell said.

“Financially it was one of the hardest years of my life.

“Now I spend in excesses of 70 hours a week at the workshop. It’s hard, it’s very hard, but I really enjoy handing over a vehicle where the customer is happy with their car. At the end of the day, the customer makes it worthwhile. A happy customer is a happy workshop.”

How Mitchell found his calling as a mechanic is interesting, as initially he studied IT in middle school at St Columba College at Andrews Farm, before he decided it (IT) wasn’t for him.

Then he kind of followed in his father’s footsteps, who was an industrial refrigeration mechanic.

“Yes, Dad was an influence in that direction, but I always enjoyed riding motorbikes at my grandparent’s property and fixing them, and go-carts – I was always hands on and enjoyed working with moving parts,” Mitchell said.

“I started my apprenticeship through the MTA, where I completed all of my training. The MTA offered fantastic facilities and training to all their apprentices. Any minor issues I had with host employers were rectified swiftly.

“The MTA symbolises quality work in the auto trade, which is now something through MP Mechanical we’re looking to emulate.

“We are super excited to be a part of the MTA, and can’t wait to continue to grow as a small business and keep offering our customers the best service we can.”

MP Mechanical Tyres & Auto has grown to such an extent, Mitchell’s partner Jessica Dowling has now joined as the invoicing officer.

It really has been an exciting time for this young man and his flourishing new business, as he has turned his life around from the uncertainty created by COVID-19 to a clear employment pathway into the future.

“Factors to a successful business vary from case to case, and for us I think we have been very fortunate with our incredible customers,” Mitchell said.

“We will always make sure our customers are a priority, which our reviews reflect. We have been fortunate to secure a workshop that’s local to many of our existing customers, and local to shopping centres, bus stops and movie theatres.

“I genuinely think the biggest key to a happy, successful business is honesty, that’s it! Be honest with customers, if we’re falling behind and need more time, we are open and honest to customers.

“We’re open with our costs up front and before commencing work. We’re really trying to break the stigma of the mechanic shop where customers feel they have been ripped off and kept in the dark.”

MP Mechanical offers a one stop shop for customers, from log-book servicing, mechanical repairs, brakes, engine replacement – anything on a vehicle, Mitchell will work on.

Everything from tyre fitting and wheel alignments, wiring diagnostics, engine light and ABS light diagnostic and repair, ECU reprogramming, accessory fitting (bull bars, towbars etc.), aftermarket suspension, wheels and tyres, and even a spotlight, dashcam, reverse cam or stereo installs, all with genuine and honest customer service. And coming soon, PCMtech.

“I love the diversity of the automotive industry,” Mitchell said.

“We get to meet people from all walks of life, and get to work on vehicles we may not have seen before. Each day is a different challenge. I don’t think you can get bored in the auto trade, it’s always updating and constantly evolving.

“The industry is completely different to what it was 20 years ago. Imagine where it will be in another 20 years?”