MINI UK entered the New Year by judging Cotswold Hereford as its 2024 Retailer of the Year.
Winners were selected across a range of categories including sales, marketing, financial services, and used cars at the awards ceremony awards in Manchester, hosted by comedian Katherine Ryan.
This year’s overall ‘Retailer of the Year’ award was presented to Cotswold Hereford, which was also shortlisted across four categories and went on to win separate awards for financial services and ‘MINI App’.
New for 2024, the ‘MINI Big Love’ award additionally acknowledges those delivering significant and impactful initiatives, which could include charitable fundraising, volunteering, or efforts to reduce environmental impact.
This year Vertu Yeovil took home the award for retail sales, Cotswold Cheltenham were successful in used cars and Grassicks achieved the top score in customer support.
The inaugural ‘MINI Big Love’ award was jointly presented to Dick Lovett & Partridge, who made incredible contributions to their respective communities and demonstrated significant efforts to reduce its environmental footprint in 2023.
Dick Lovett committed £500,000 to solar panel installations across the group, with panels predicted to save over 78 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Additionally, foodbank collection points were set up across their four MINI Centres to help support vulnerable members of the community.
Similarly, Partridge conducted several inspiring Big Love initiatives while fundraising for their chosen charity – Ronald McDonald House. Including a family fun day and tea and cake morning, the team set themselves the challenge of virtually cycling 1,500 miles (the distance to Munich and back), raising almost £4,000.
Going one step further, Partridge planted 1.5 trees for every car they delivered in 2023 – a total of 5,700 trees.
Speaking at the awards, Federico Izzo, director, MINI UK and Ireland, said: “2023 was an exciting year for the MINI brand with the announcement of the first two members of the new MINI family: the all-new Cooper Electric and new MINI Countryman.
“While looking forward to welcoming these models to their showrooms, our incredible retailers remained passionate and dedicated, and thanks to their efforts over 47,000 new MINIs were delivered to UK customers in 2023 – up 4% year on year – continuing the UK’s position as the largest MINI market. Congratulations to all our winners, and especially to Cotswold Hereford – our 2024 Retailer of the Year.”
On receiving the Retailer of the Year Award, Peter Redfern, head of business, at Cotswold Hereford, commented, “I am delighted for the Cotswold Hereford MINI team, who demonstrated focus, energy and consistency throughout 2023. To be nominated for one award is immense, let alone picking up awards for MINI Financial Services, MINI App, and then overall MINI Retailer of the Year.
“I know how hard Luke and his team have worked to achieve this amazing recognition, so I am absolutely thrilled for them, as well as incredibly proud. They treat every customer like family which shows in their NPS scores for new cars, used cars and service, whilst delivering the highest levels of professionalism at all times.”