The judging for the 2018 AM Awards, UK motor retail’s most credible accolades, has been completed and the shortlist of finalists revealed.

The AM Awards 2018 will be held at the ICC in Birmingham on February 8 and will acknowledge high achievers in 23 categories.

New awards include Best Social Media Strategy, Best Digital Campaign, New Retailer of the Entrants can include companies and individuals and previous winners range from single-site operators to the biggest national dealer groups.

The finalists in each of the 23 categories are given below, plus details of the night’s entertainment.

AM and our auditors BDO look forward to welcoming you to the most glamorous event of the year.

For more information or to book your places go to am-awards.co.uk.

2018 AM Awards categories and finalists

Best Dealer Website - sponsored by CarGurus

Finalists

Bridgend Ford

DM Keith

Jardine Motors Group

Luscombe Motors

Motor Village

Renault Retail Group

Sturgess Motor Group

Best Social Media Strategy - sponsored by Marketing Delivery

Finalists

Bells Crossgar

CarShop

David Dexters

Marshall Motor Holdings

Best Digital Campaign - sponsored by Motors.co.uk

Finalists

Endeavour Automotive

Mercedes-Benz Retail Group

TrustFord

Digital Retailer of the year - sponsored by Autino

Finalists

BuyaCar

Rockar Best

Training & Development programme - sponsored by AutoProtect

Finalists

Drive Motor Retail

Perrys

Peter Vardy Rookie Academy

Renault Retail Group

Sytner

Vauxhall (Raytheon)

Excellence in Customer Service - sponsored by EMaC

Finalists

Luscombe Motors

Romford Mazda

Best Aftersales Performance - sponsored by Autoguard Warranties

Sponsor video

Finalists

Devonshire Motors

Go Vauxhall

Swansway

Best Used Car Performance - sponsored by Autoclenz

Finalists

Drayton Kia

Luscombe Motors

Peter Vardy BMW/Mini Edinburgh

Best Fleet Operation – sponsored by Santander Consumer Finance

Finalists

Norton Way

Pendragon National Fleet Services

TrustFord

Sales Team Of The Year - sponsored by Barclays Partner Finance

Finalists

Peter Vardy BMW/Mini Edinburgh

Peter Vardy Carstore Glasgow

Romford Mazda

Most Improved Dealership - sponsored by Auto Trader

Sponsor video

Finalists

Clive Brook Volvo Bradford

DM Keith Skoda Bradford

Infiniti Newcastle (Vertu Motors)

Best Dealership - sponsored by Rhino Events

Finalists

Devonshire Motors

Drayton Kia

Luscombe Motors

Peter Vardy BMW/Mini Edinburgh

New Retailer of the year - sponsored by DSG Finance

Sponsor video

Finalists

GWR Kia (Norton Way)

Peter Vardy Carstore Dundee

Porsche Centre Wolverhampton (Pendragon)

Best Retail Group (up to and including 10 sites) - sponsored by Jewelultra Diamondbrite

Sponsor video

Finalists

Clive Brook

Endeavour Automotive

Hatfields

Norton Way

Best Retail Group (more than 10 sites) - sponsored by MOTUL

Sponsor video

Finalists

CEM Day

Eden Motor Group

Peter Vardy

Sytner

DP/GM of the year - sponsored by Perfect Placement Automotive Recruitment

Sponsor video

Perfect Placement Automotive Recruitment - See How We Shine from Perfect Placement on Vimeo.

Finalists

Darren Bradford, Drayton Kia

Neil Hodgson, Perrys Worksop

Robin Luscombe, Luscombe Motors

William Blackshaw, Blackshaws Garage

Manufacturer of the year - sponsored by carwow

Sponsor video

 

Finalists

Hyundai

Kia

Toyota

Volkswagen

Volvo

Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Black Horse

Chosen by the judges from winning retailers

 

Business Leader of the Year - sponsored by Premia Solutions

Chosen by the judges

 

Used Car of the year - sponsored by Car Care Plan

Finalists

BMW 3 Series

Ford Fiesta

Kia Sportage

 

New Car of the year - sponsored by Supagard

Finalists

Ford Fiesta

Honda Civic

Kia Picanto

Kia Stinger

Volvo XC60

Franchise partner of the year - sponsored by Car Finance Giants

Finalists

Ford

Kia

Suzuki

Volkswagen

Volvo

AM Hall of Fame – sponsored by Shell UK

Selected by AM

 

AM Awards 2018 – evening entertainment

Back by popular demand...... The 2018 presenter is Steph McGovern.

For over a decade Steph McGovern has reported on business and finance from around the world; from international summits to small business success stories.

She is an established part of the BBC Breakfast team, covering business developments daily, and also regularly taking to the sofa as main co-host.

During the financial crash Steph (left) was the lead producer of financial news, working with then Business Editor Robert Peston at the forefront of the award-winning coverage of the credit crunch and banking crisis. She soon began broadcasting herself, and Steph has presented on 5Live, Radio 4 and on the Chris Evans show on Radio 2.

Steph's breakfast duties include meeting first-hand those on Britain’s business frontline.

Speaking to factory workers and FTSE 100 CEOs, Steph’s mission is to uncover and explain what’s going on in the real economy.

Our comedian – Lee Nelson

Known as Britain's best hoaxer, Nelson has hit the headlines for a series of controversial live stunts over the years, from handing Theresa May her P45 at the Tory conference in October, to showering Sepp Blatter with banknotes at the Fifa press conference in 2015.

He has headlined Glastonbury with Kanye West by storming the stage and placed a banner on Philip Green’s luxury yacht, renaming it the BHS Destroyer. 

As well as keeping the nation entertained with his pranks, Nelson has taken five hit shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, had 3 successful TV shows of his own and hosted Live at the Apollo.

2018 entertainment Once the awards and Lee Nelson have finished the cash bars will open. Guests wanting to network in a quieter location, then the chill-out lounge is the place for you.

Game on at Casino Aston Barclay.

After the awards, come and have some fun at the Casino Aston Barclay.

You will be staking fake funds so your wallet is safe, courtesy of the team from Aston Barclay who have swapped the gavel for casino chips. Don’t forget your £100 game note from your table to exchange for chips.

The 2018 AM Awards judges

Chairman of the judges - Christopher Macgowan OBE

Stephen Briers – editor-in-chief, AM

Tim Rose – editor, AM

Jeremy Bennett - associate editor and digital manager, AM

Piers Trenear-Thomas – industry consultant

Steve Young – managing director, International Car Distribution Programme

Steve Nash – chief executive, Institute of the Motor Industry

Professor Jim Saker – director, Centre for Automotive Management, Loughborough University’s Business School

Ray Sommerville – industry veteran, former Perrys chief executive

Hamel Soni - Google industry head, autos (assisted judging of Best Dealer Website category only)