If you have been meaning to enter our Dealer Of The Year Awards this time around, but haven’t quite got round to it, here’s your final (polite) nudge.

In an unprecedented move (and I assure you there's definitely no need to look back to what happened last year - or the one before that!) the marvellous organising team have extended the deadline by a few days until this coming Tuesday (October 27th 2026). So there’s still time to get your application together over the weekend and put your dealership in the running.

There are plenty of good reasons to get involved, not least the chance to earn some well-deserved recognition for the hard work you and your team put in throughout the year. But there’s also an opportunity to shine a light on someone who might not always get the recognition they deserve.

Added to the awards line-up last week following popular demand, our returning Star Of The Dealership category is all about celebrating the individuals who make a real difference to the business.

You know who they are in your workplace. They’re the people who make coming in on a Monday morning that little bit more bearable! Perhaps it’s your parts person who always finds a solution, a sales expert who goes the extra mile for customers, or an admin whizz who somehow keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes.

Whoever they are, we want to hear about them.

These are the unsung heroes who help make a dealership what it is, and this award offers an opportunity to put them in the spotlight, giving them the recognition they deserve. Nominations can come from suppliers, employers, managers, senior team members, colleagues or customers - so there are plenty of ways to make sure a deserving individual gets their moment in the sun.

Other awards for individuals will acknowledge the vital role of New Technicians and the inspiration that comes from great Leaders.

Of course, it’s not just individuals who can benefit. Our machinery specialism awards offer dealerships the chance to demonstrate the quality of their business and the expertise they bring to their customers.

There are titles to be won across Garden, Professional Turfcare, Farm and Forestry machinery, while this year also sees the introduction of a Plant Hire & Construction Machinery Dealer of the Year category, reflecting the growing breadth of our readership. Also for open for nominations from any business is the always fascinating Best New Initiative prize.

Whatever the area you are your local experts in (and it could of course, be more than one), there’s a category for you to get involved with.

I always think that winning a respected trade award of this kind can make a genuine difference to a small business. Beyond the satisfaction of knowing your team’s efforts have been given their dues, there’s a valuable PR opportunity. A win can provide a great story for local media and your social channels, strengthen relationships with customers and suppliers, and give prospective customers another reason to choose your business.

It’s always gratifying for us to see previous winners proudly displaying their trophies in their showrooms, or using their winners’ logos on their websites and email signatures. These are businesses making the most of their achievement, and rightly so.

So I’m afraid you must consider this your final reminder. The extended deadline is this coming Tuesday 27th October, giving you until the beginning of next week to throw your hat into the ring.

Entering is straightforward, and the potential benefits for your business and the people who make it special, are well worth the effort.

Click here to find all the details of each category and to get your nominations in.

Don’t leave it until next year. Get involved!

Due to demand, the Dealer Of The Year Awards entry deadline has been extended by a few days, until Tuesday 27th October next week.

Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke, said, "We have had some great entries in for our Awards this year - and to accommodate any 'latecomers' who still want to join in, we are holding open the receiving of entries until the beginning of next week. However, we must close the process on Tuesday 27th to begin the judging stages.

"So please, any dealers who want their business or their staff to be in the running for recognition this year, get your applications together this weekend and get them across to us!"

Heading to our nominations page, you'll find all you need to put your dealership and staff forward for as many awards as you like. 

Dealerships and individuals can also be nominated by any third party who feels they are deserving of recognition. These nominations can come from manufacturers, suppliers, customers, staff members etc.

Entries must be in by midnight on Tuesday 27th October 2026.

ENTER HERE

Merlo UK has announced the appointment of AL Agri as its new agricultural dealer for eastern Scotland / Angus and the surrounding area.

L-R: Euan Thomson, regional sales manager, Merlo UK; Andy Mitchel and Liam Wylie, directors,  AL Agri; Andy Collier, product support manager, Merlo UK

Based near Forfar, AL Agri is an established agricultural machinery business providing new and used machinery alongside parts, servicing, and repairs. Founded in 2016 by business partners Andy Mitchell and Liam Wylie, Merlo says the dealership has built its business around a hands-on, customer-focused approach and today has a dedicated team of technicians supporting customers in the region.
 
The appointment will see AL Agri provide sales, service and parts support for the manufacturer’s agricultural telehandler range.

Owen Buttle, national sales manager at Merlo UK, said, “Andy, Liam and the team have built a strong business with an excellent understanding of both the machinery and the needs of farmers in the area.
 
“For us, a successful dealer appointment is about much more than selling machines. Customers need knowledgeable local people who can provide the service, parts and ongoing support needed throughout the life of the machine. AL Agri has that infrastructure and, just as importantly, shares our commitment to looking after customers.”
 
Andy Mitchell, director of AL Agri, added, “Telehandlers are an essential part of day-to-day operations on most farms and Merlo gives us a comprehensive range to offer our customers. We know our local farming community well and are looking forward to introducing more customers to the Merlo product, backed up by the service and support they already expect from AL Agri.”

Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS) have announced that they have invested £500,000 in a new purpose-built sprayer workshop at their Littleport branch.

The company says the new workshop, which is due to open at the end of October, has been built to support the growing number of sprayers being sold and serviced, following the addition of the Amazone franchise in December 2025.

As a key partner for both Fendt Rogator self-propelled sprayers and Amazone crop protection machinery, TNS say they are seeing growing demand for specialist sprayer servicing, repairs and diagnostics. The new facility strengthens aftersales support for both Fendt and Amazone brands and enables TNS to provide backup for all other major sprayer makes.

The purpose-built workshop measures 40.25m long by 18m wide, with a 6m eaves height, and can accommodate up to four sprayers at once or a single large 36m boom sprayer with its booms fully extended.

Adam Cuttridge, head of service & branch operations at TNS, said, "The growth of our sprayer business, particularly since taking on the Amazone franchise, has increased demand for specialist aftersales support. We have invested in this new workshop to give our technicians the facilities and capacity they need to support our customers regardless of weather conditions.

"We can now accommodate some of the largest sprayers on the market, while also providing servicing and repairs across multiple brands.”

The workshop can be accessed through seven insulated vehicle doors, allowing machines of different sizes to be moved in and out of the building. The building is fully insulated with steel composite cladding and features a concrete floor slab with underfloor insulation.

The project was delivered by TNS’s Specialist Installations Division (SID), which managed the project from planning permission and design through to tendering and construction. Local contractors were used to complete the main elements of the build.

TNS say the development will help their team support farmers across Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire with dedicated technicians and purpose-built facilities for a wide range of modern spraying equipment.

New Holland is marking the 120th anniversary of its Zedelgem Global Centre of Excellence for Harvesting Technology in Belgium, which develops and produces combines, forage harvesters and balers for markets around the world.

The site dates back to 1906, when Léon Claeys established an engineering business there and began producing threshing machines. In 1952, Claeys launched the MZ, described by New Holland as Europe’s first self-propelled combine harvester. The business was acquired by Sperry Rand, then owner of New Holland, in 1964.

Today, the 36-hectare facility employs around 3,000 people and exports machinery to approximately 130 countries. It produces CX conventional and CR Twin Rotor combines, FR Forage Cruiser self-propelled forage harvesters and the BigBaler range.

Zedelgem is also the global production site for New Holland’s CR10 and CR11 Twin Rotor combines.

The manufacturer says the site is currently benefiting from a €150 million, five-year investment programme covering research and development and production capabilities. This has included a redesigned assembly line and logistics area for CR10 and CR11 production, alongside the introduction of automated guided vehicles to increase manufacturing flexibility.

The facility also uses virtual engineering technology to assess new machine concepts and allow customers to provide feedback during the development process.

New Holland says the plant processes around 157,000 tonnes of steel each year.

STIGA is among the real-world mower manufacturers featured in Lawn Mowing Simulator 2, which has launched on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Developed by Skyhook Games, the sequel allows players to build their own lawncare business, taking on residential and commercial contracts while managing finances, hiring staff and upgrading their headquarters.

Alongside mowing, players can undertake additional grounds maintenance tasks, including leaf blowing and weed clearance. The game features a range of properties and locations, including the new US-inspired Grassington, with realistic mowing controls and machines from real manufacturers.

STIGA says the game offers an opportunity to introduce lawncare and its machinery to a wider audience through a virtual take on professional mowing.

Our Briggs & Stratton Pre-Season Offer order form & brochure are now available to download by clicking the links below.

Please refer to the order form for full terms & conditions.

Briggs & Stratton Brochure Download

Briggs & Stratton Order Form Download

Our Kawasaki Pre-Season Offer order form & brochure are now available to download by clicking the links below.

Please refer to the order form for full terms & conditions.

Kawasaki Brochure Download

Kawasaki Order Form Download

Please only use the downloadable order forms to place your orders and email them to: info@uni-power.co.uk

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