Franchised and independent dealers now have extra time to complete their 2021 AM Awards entries, as we're extending the deadline for submissions to June 1.

It means there's still time to put forward staff members' clever ideas for the Bright Spark Award, or to nominate your essential worker-supporting workshops for a Best Aftersales Team Award.

And there's the Community Hero Award waiting for a dealership or group that has given much-needed support to local people or organisations, while the Best In Customer Service Award could be your chance to show how you've gone the extra mile to delight and impress the people spending money in your showroom or workshop.

There are three new AM Award categories this year too that recognise some of the fresh growth areas in automotive: the Best Finance or Leasing Brokerage Award; the Apprenticeship Programme of the Year Award and the Best Electric Vehicle (EV) Dealership Award.

And as usual we want you to put forward your management superstars for General Manager/Dealer Principal Of The Year, and shout about your great processes in the Best Online Consumer Experience Award and Best Marketing Strategy Award.

"We know it's been hectic for dealers since showrooms were allowed to reopen a few weeks ago, so we're happy to extend the AM Awards entry period by just over a week and help you get the best chance to grab an amazing trophy and PR opportunity that will impress your customers," said AM editor Tim Rose.

"If you've not already, go to the AM Awards website and register your account now and then you can add in the information for your entries piece-by-piece and save as you go.

"Just make sure you submit it by June 1 please."

The AM Awards gala dinner is scheduled to take place at its usual home, Birmingham's International Convention Centre (ICC), on September 8 this year, with social distancing measures in place if still necessary, as coronavirus restrictions prevented AM from planning it for its traditional February gathering.