It has a strategy for success that keeps evolving.” That statement formed part of this winner’s praise from the awards judging panel, in a very strongly contested category. Other judges’ statements following a review of its audit included “an extraordinary group” and “head and shoulders ahead”.

Sytner has a superb portfolio of premium and specialist franchises and some spectacular facilities, yet it is its people and processes which form the cogs in this motor retailing machine and make it a very profitable high-performer.

Staff are rewarded and valued, and motivated to play their part in its success, as testified by its clutch of Sunday Times Best Companies To Work For awards.

In return, the group’s success filters back down, giving ambitious employees the skills and opportunities to progress their careers, either at Sytner in the UK or overseas with its parent, Penske Automotive. Members of Sytner’s board of directors provide inspiration, including chief executive Darren Edwards and HR director Melvin Rogers, who have both come up through the ranks.

As the new car market’s growth ended in 2017, Sytner took a leap into used cars with the acquisitions of the UK’s two largest car supermarket chains, Car Shop and The Car People. Together they form a new division, operating separately from Sytner’s franchised divisions, but the expertise and talent they add to the group only make it stronger.

Sytner is now the UK’s largest car dealer by turnover, but as Edwards told AM recently: “As a company, we never set out to be the biggest, we just wanted to be the best.”

The group’s programme of further improvements, staff training and technological developments makes it clear its focus remains on becoming exactly that.