Tim Byrne at Revive! Watford shortlisted Hertfordshire Business Awards.

Tim Byrne’s decision to buy a Revive! franchise has paid off, chalking up impressive financial results and earning recognition as one of the best new businesses in Hertfordshire.

Revive! Watford has earned a place as a finalist at the SME Hertfordshire Business Awards, which will be held in Welwyn Garden City on 14 September 2023.

The judges were impressed with Revive! Watford’s rapid financial growth, which saw the business generate more than £250,000 in sales in the first 12 months of trading.

A father of two, Tim 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 AutoRestore 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.