Hendy hails 2023 as its ‘biggest year’ at Group Awards event

Hendy Group founder and chief executive Paul Hendy hailed 2023 as the car retailer's “biggest year” as he celebrated the successes of its top-performing staff at an annual awards event.

TV and radio presenter Colin Murray hosted around 1,300 colleagues from the AM100 business at Bournemouth International Centre as 11 employees received awards for their efforts in 2022.

Group founder and chief executive Paul Hendy said he was extremely proud of the contribution made by employees as Hendy reached a milestone £1 billion turnover.

“COVID meant the toughest trading conditions since the Second World War but we knuckled down and showed resilience,” said Hendy.

“Tonight is about recognition for the jobs you do and 2023 is going to be our biggest year no question.”

Hendy, which recently grew its portfolio with Lotus Cars and added Maserati and Moke franchises, now represents more than 20 franchises in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Devon.

Group used car sales buyer Mark Sanger and Hendy Truck administration manager Pauline Allen were both inducted into the Hendy Hall of Fame at its group awards.

Hendy described Sanger was “a company and industry stalwart”, and paid tribute to the 25 years’ service Allen has given the truck division.

The group’s Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) sales team was awarded Team of the Year for their work across Christchurch, Southampton and Salisbury.

Site of the Year was awarded to Iveco School Lane.

The awards event’s individual winners included Tom Lange from JLR Southampton who was named Aftersales Colleague of the Year and Nick Mead from Hendy Nissan Bournemouth who was named Sales Colleague of the Year.

Sales manager of the year was Richard Walker from Hendy Ford Tunbridge Wells and Laura Shipley was named Support Function Colleague of the Year.

There was a Hero of the Year award for Hendy Performance technician Rob Procter after he cycled from Canada to Mexico with no support crew in aid of Hendy Foundation.

Celebrating the achievement of the Hendy Group and its employees, chairman Simon Gulliford said: “It’s down to the people who make the big difference.

“We are now seeing the sixth generation of the Hendy family and the company is six times larger than when I joined in 2014.”