Former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls will be the guest speaker at the NFDA Spring Ball when it returns to ‘Celebrate Automotive Excellence’ in April.

Four awards will be presented at the National Franchised Dealers Association’s (NFDA) flagship event – including a brand new ‘Green Dealer Initiative’ Award – hosted by Mark Durden-Smith at the Grove Hotel Golf & Spa Resort, Hertfordshire, on April 2.

And the NFDA said in a statement that it was “delighted” to announce its return to the calendar following after two years of postponements forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

NFDA chief executive, Sue Robinson, said: “We are thrilled to host again the NFDA Spring Ball. The evening promises to bring together some of the industry’s leading representatives to celebrate the excellence of the automotive industry.

“We look forward to seeing dealer members, friends and colleagues at this year’s NFDA Ball.”

On the night of the event, the NFDA will be presenting Manufacturer Partner of the Year, Industry Partner of the Year and Industry Personality of the Year awards.

A brand-new accolade, the Green Dealer Initiative Award, rewarding the efforts and investments dealers are making to embrace the transition to net zero.

As well as issuing awards to successful organisations and individuals, the NFDA is currently working to highlight opportunities in the sector for the next generation of automotive retail talent.

This week – to mark National Apprenticeship Week – its Drive My Career campaign is promoting a social media takeover.

Apprentices wishing to get involved should use the hashtag #DMCApprenticeTakeover on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

The NFDA Spring Ball 2022’s guest speaker, Ed Balls, is a broadcaster, writer and economist.

He is a former member of Parliament, Shadow Chancellor, Cabinet Minister and Chief Economic Adviser to the Treasury.

He was also a fans’ favourite on Strictly Come Dancing 2016, broadcasted his first BBC series ‘Travels in Trumpland: with Ed Balls’ in 2018 and was the winner of the BBC’s Celebrity Best Home Cook in February 2021.