The Dale Carnegie Training Leadership Award, which recognises outstanding leadership and innovation in the field of human resources and training, has been presented to the head of a UK franchised dealer group.

Robert Forrester, chief executive of Vertu Motors, has received international recognition for his outstanding contribution to business, only the second UK business leader to do so in six years.

The award is decided by the Board of Dale Carnegie & Associates Inc, based in New York.

The company has worked with Vertu Motors for the last four years, supporting Vertu’s training and development strategy for senior personnel, delivering leadership and management development.

Robert Forrester said: “At Vertu Motors we’ve been working with Dale Carnegie for a number of years, in order to ensure that we build the right culture within our fast-growing group.

"Together we develop and deliver training programmes that enable our Managers to deliver outstanding results.

"We strive to deliver extraordinary service to our customers and Dale Carnegie help us do this. Our colleagues are our biggest and most valuable resource and investing in their development is vital in achieving business goals."

Vertu Motors trades as Bristol Street Motors and Macklin Motors.

In the past five years the only other recipients in the UK of this award have been the plant director of Vauxhall Motors at Ellesmere Port and the CEO of Odeon Cinemas.