AM Awards judges ready to study dealers' success stories

The judging panel for the AM Awards has expanded this year, welcoming two more very experienced and highly respected motor retail experts into the process which will study the awards entries from franchised and independent dealerships and dealer groups.

Former Lookers group operations director Paul Bentley and former Norton Way Group operations director Richard Siney have agreed to join the AM Awards panel of judges. Both have gone into consultancy since leaving their AM100 groups in recent years.

"I am so delighted that both Paul and Richard have agreed to become AM Awards judges," said Automotive Management's editor Tim Rose.

"Both have vast experience gained from leading dealer groups which have been previously gone through AM's very robust judging process and taken home our trophies, and now it is exciting to engage them in the other side of process and see which of our awards entrants impress them."

The full judging panel for the 2025 AM Awards consists of:

• Paul Bentley, director, Bentley Consultative Services
• Sally Fyffe, group marketing director, Micheldever Group
• Julia Muir, founder, Automotive 30% Club
• Sue Robinson, chief executive, National Franchised Dealers Association
• Tim Rose, editor, Automotive Management
• Jim Saker, emeritus professor, Loughborough University
• Richard Siney, managing director, Richard Siney Consulting
• Aimée Turner, deputy editor, Automotive Management
• Steve Young, managing director, ICDP

Christopher Macgowan OBE chairs the judging panel.

The AM Awards auditors Cooper Parry (formerly known as UHY Hacker Young) interview and verify the entrants to our headline retailer awards including the Franchised Dealership of the Year and both Dealer Group of the Year categories.

Dealerships and motor retail groups can still enter the 2025 AM Awards, but time is running out - the deadline for submissions is January 31.

AM Awards categories available for motor retailers to enter:

• The Community Hero Award 
• Marketing Strategy of the Year
• Online Consumer Experience of the Year - Franchised Dealer
• Online Consumer Experience of the Year - Independent Dealer 
• Leader in Diversity and Inclusion - Open to franchised and independent car and van retailers
• Workshop of the Year - Independent & Franchised
• Best in Customer Service - Entries accepted from franchised and independent car and LCV dealers.
• Customer Service Champion - This award is for an individual who works within a franchised or independent car or LCV retailer, in any customer-facing role or department. 
• EV Advocate of the Year - Open to both dealers and OEMs.
• EV Performance of the Year - Open to franchised and independent car or LCV dealers.
• The Sustainability Award
• Franchised Dealership of the Year - This category is open to single-site owner operators and to best performing dealerships within a larger group network.
• Independent Dealer of the Year - Open to any independent (non-franchised) dealer that sells used cars.
• Used Car Performance of the Year - Open to any company or group that sells used cars.
• Dealer Principal/General Manager of the Year 
• Dealer Group of the Year (up to 10 sites)
• Dealer Group of the Year (more than 10 sites)