How Rye Motors Got IT They Can Trust with Focus Technology Solutions
Industry: Vehicle Service, MOT and Fleet Management
Employees: 15
Location:Ashton-in-Makerfield, Greater Manchester
Provider: Focus Technology Solutions, Skelmersdale
Rye Motors is a commercial vehicle specialist operating across 3 sites in the North West, 6 days a week. Their previous IT provider left them with days-long response times and an estimated £35,000 in lost business and reputational damage. Since switching to Focus Technology Solutions for managed IT support, Rye Motors has achieved 100% SLA compliance on P1 incidents, with a guaranteed 30-minute engineer response time. Marilyn Turner-Laurent, Director, says it truly is a partnership.
Estimated cost of disruption before switching
P1 SLA met since switching to Focus
RESULTS
Systems stay online even on weekends so operations run smoothly across all three sites
No more worrying about IT - Marilyn can spend her time on the business, not chasing a support team
A team that is always available and rooting for Rye Motors' success
100% of P1 incidents resolved to SLA, with an engineer actively working the issue within 30 minutes.
Strategic visibility through regular Quarterly Business Reviews
Issues always explained in a clear, human tone — no jargon, no fuss
THE PROBLEM
Rye Motors is an independent vehicle service and MOT centre operating across three sites in the North West. They run six days a week and their entire operation depends on reliable connectivity to DVLA systems. If the IT goes down, MOTs cannot be issued and revenue stops immediately.
Despite that dependency, Rye Motors were stuck in a contract with an IT provider they never saw. Problems were raised and left unresolved. SLAs were not being met. And when something went wrong, there was nobody to call who would actually show up.
Marilyn Turner-Laurent, Director, had no visibility over what was happening with the IT, no confidence in the provider, and no way to plan ahead. The business was running on hope rather than on a proper IT foundation.
The situation had become unsustainable. Rye Motors needed a provider who would actually turn up, actually deliver, and actually care whether the business could operate on a Saturday morning.
The provider was nowhere to be seen. Problems lingered unresolved and service level agreements were not being met. When issues were raised, response times stretched to days rather than hours.
MOT and DVLA connectivity is essential for Rye Motors to operate. Downtime was not just frustrating, it directly impacted revenue and compliance across three sites. Marilyn Turner-Laurent estimates the combined cost of disruption, in lost business and reputational damage, at approximately £35,000.
With operations running six days a week, Rye Motors needed a partner who could be there when it really counted, not just during office hours Monday to Friday.
Leaving the existing provider was not straightforward. Rye Motors needed help reviewing what their contract actually entitled them to and how to exit it cleanly.
“We were locked into an IT contract with a provider we never saw and we weren’t getting the support we needed.”
HOW WE HELPED
Focus Technology Solutions did not just take over IT support. They rolled up their sleeves and got Rye Motors out of a bad deal first.
The team reviewed the previous provider’s SLA and the ways in which it had failed. That review gave Rye Motors the grounds to exit the contract cleanly, without disruption to operations. From there, Focus managed a seamless transfer of services so the business never had a gap in cover.
Once in place, Focus built an IT setup around how Rye Motors actually operates – not a standard package, but a service that prioritised uptime for MOT and DVLA connectivity, provided weekend coverage to match the six-day operating week, and delivered expert guidance across all three sites.
The difference was immediate. Issues were resolved quickly. Communication was clear and human. And for the first time, Marilyn had a team who felt like genuine partners in the business rather than a number to call when something broke.
“Focus took over, and things changed instantly. They stepped in, sorted out the contract, and gave us the support we had been missing.”
THE RESULT
For Rye Motors, the change was not just operational – it was a fundamental shift in how Marilyn feels about the technology that runs her business.
The systems stay online. The MOT and DVLA connectivity is reliable. When something needs attention, someone is there to deal with it, whether it is a Tuesday afternoon or a Saturday morning. And the issues are explained in plain language rather than jargon that leaves Marilyn none the wiser.
The Quarterly Business Reviews have added a layer of strategic visibility that simply did not exist before. Marilyn now knows what is happening with her IT, what is planned, and what to expect.
As she put it herself: it truly is a partnership. And that is exactly what Focus Technology Solutions is there to be.
“I know that my business technology is in safe hands. Focus always go above and beyond for us. It truly is a partnership.”
WHY FOCUS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Focus Technology Solutions is a managed IT support provider based in Skelmersdale, serving
SMEs across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and Lancashire.
AVAILABILITY
Focus Technology Solutions provides coverage that fits how your business operates, not just standard office hours. Rye Motors needed weekend cover, and they got it.
ACCOUNTABILITY
No invisible providers. No unanswered tickets. Focus Technology Solutions is there when you need them, responds quickly, and communicates clearly.
QUARTERLY REVIEWS
Regular Quarterly Business Reviews give you a clear picture of your IT, what is working, and what is planned next — in plain language.
COVERAGE
Focus Technology Solutions supports SMEs from 5 to 100 users across multiple sites, including garages, service centres, and multi-site operations.
Related guides from Focus Technology Solutions
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The full account: a bad IT contract, a seamless transition to Focus Technology Solutions, and the IT support that now keeps three sites running smoothly.
COMMON QUESTIONS
MOT centres depend on constant connectivity to DVLA systems. Any downtime means revenue stops and compliance is at risk. Focus Technology Solutions helped Rye Motors by prioritising uptime for MOT and DVLA connectivity across three sites, offering weekend support to match their six-day operating week, and delivering proactive advice rather than just reactive fixes. Call Focus Technology Solutions on 01942 318 070 to discuss how managed IT support would work for your business.
If your IT provider is failing to meet their service level agreement, you may have grounds to exit the contract. Focus Technology Solutions reviewed Rye Motors’ failed SLA with their previous provider and helped them exit a bad contract cleanly. If your IT provider is not delivering, call Focus Technology Solutions on 01942 318 070 for a no-obligation conversation.
Yes. Focus Technology Solutions offers support that matches your actual operating hours. Rye Motors operates six days a week and needed an IT partner who could be there when it mattered. Focus Technology Solutions provided weekend coverage as part of their managed IT support package. Call 01942 318 070 to discuss what coverage would look like for your business.
Managing IT across multiple sites requires a provider who understands your infrastructure and can maintain consistency across all locations. Focus Technology Solutions provided expert guidance to streamline Rye Motors’ infrastructure across three sites, giving Marilyn Turner-Laurent the visibility and confidence she needed. Call Focus Technology Solutions on 01942 318 070 to discuss multi-site IT support.
A Quarterly Business Review is a structured session where Focus Technology Solutions sits down with you to review your IT environment, discuss what is working, identify what needs improving, and plan ahead. For Rye Motors, these reviews gave Marilyn strategic visibility over her IT rather than just a helpdesk to call when something broke. Call 01942 318 070 to find out more.
Ready for IT That Actually Shows Up?
As Marilyn put it: Focus always go above and beyond. It truly is a partnership. Focus
Technology Solutions supports businesses across Greater Manchester, Merseyside, and
Lancashire.
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