Lifetime achievement award for Michael Smyth, Swansway Group chairman

mr-smyth-lbv.jpg

Swansway Group is delighted to announce that Michael Smyth, chair and founder of Swansway Group, with car and van dealerships located across the North West and Midlands, has received a coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, in the Car Dealer Used Car Awards 2020. The award has been given in recognition of his impressive motor industry achievements, and all the benefits he continues to deliver to motorists for over half a century - and counting!

From the purchase of a business comprising two wooden huts for repairing vehicles and two petrol pumps in 1967, to currently leading a business of over 1,000 staff with a turnover of £770 million, Michael Smyth’s inspiring career in the automotive industry is remarkable. His ever-present entrepreneurial spirit, hard work and dedication, combined with his instinctive understanding of the importance of the customer experience, has led to his consistently outstanding performance in a variety of enterprises.

 

Michael’s previous achievements include:

Revolutionising the selling of fuel, both in price and in customer service commitment for petrol stations.  Identifying the opportunity presented by the introduction of Toyota to the UK market and establishing RRG Group which became Europe’s largest Toyota dealer group. Founding Elton Vehicle Contacts, a contact hire and leasing business that grew at a vast rate and is now part of Lex Autolease and EMaC; an automotive service plan business that allowed drivers to pay monthly for their vehicle maintenance, making it easier to budget and keep motoring affordable.  EMaC was sold to venture capitalists in 2012 and continues to be the largest service plan supplier in the UK. Creating Swansway Group in 2003 with his three sons; a multi-award winning, multi-faceted business, encompassing 23 dealerships, an accident repair centre and a contract hire and leasing division, from Birmingham in the Midlands to Carlisle in the North.  Swansway Group currently represents Volkswagen, Audi, Land Rover, Jaguar, SEAT, CUPRA, Peugeot, Honda and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, plus 5 Motor Match non-franchise locations.

The Michael Smyth “golden touch”, however, is still very much in evidence, and it always includes customer-led innovation and impressive attention to detail. And the resulting outcomes are always added value and benefits for customers. He continues to be hugely influential in making motoring affordable, sustainable and enjoyable for so many drivers, with many more developments still to come.

Michael says: “It is with great pleasure that I receive the 2020 Car Dealer Used Car Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, it is a very special moment of recognition for me. Making a difference to the lives of motorists, and being able to give back to the communities where we do business, has always been a great privilege, and I am looking forward to all the further advancements we are aiming to bring to customers. Thank you to all those memorable individuals who have taken to heart the Swansway ethos of “caring, honest and proud”, and who have contributed to our success over the years. I look forward to all we will achieve together in the future.”

Enjoyed this? Read more from Swansway Motor Group

Latest news

1

BAE Systems workers vote for strike action BAE Systems production

BAE Systems workers vote for strike action

23 Oct 2025

2

National Cyber Force launches startup programme in the North West Nick Miles, National Cyber Force deputy director for Samlesbury

National Cyber Force launches startup programme in the North West

23 Oct 2025

3

Foresight announces £90m first close of its third North West regional investment fund Foresight announces £90 million first close of its third dedicated North West regional investment fund

Foresight announces £90m first close of its third North West regional investment fund

23 Oct 2025

4

McMurrays Haulage expands fleet after contract win Warehouse Supervisor at Pets Choice Brad Eddleston and McMurrays Sales Manager Rob Spencer. Photo credit: McMurrays Haulage Limited

McMurrays Haulage expands fleet after contract win

21 Oct 2025

5

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day Derry Green

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day

21 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

10:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

The AI Lab: E-commerce
Ai Lab ecommerce (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Nov 2025 - 14 Nov 2025

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin