- HEDIN MERCEDES MECHANICS BALLOTED FOR STRIKE ACTION
- STRUCTURE CHANGE FOR BRAYLEYS OWNER
- DICK LOVETT PROFIT HALVES IN 2024
- PENSION AUTO-ENROLMENT COULD HIT 12%
- FLEXIBLE WORKING REPORT TO LAUNCH THIS WEEK
- WEEK AHEAD: Auto Trader full year
- JAECOO 7 AN IN-DEMAND NEW CAR SAYS AUTO TRADER
- UK WORKERS AVOIDING TAX ‘CLIFF-EDGE’
- US OEM DISMAY THAT UK TARIFFS LOWER THAN CANADA, MEXICO
- NISSAN TO SELL GLOBAL HQ?
- OPINION: AI, job hunting and the vanishing career ladder
Hedin Mercedes mechanics balloted for strike action
Mechanics at Hedin Mercedes-Benz Brooklands, Bromley, Croydon and Dartford are being balloted for strike action over pay. The Unite union said the company is “refusing to put forward any pay offer for 2025”. Last year, employees received a 2% pay rise, compared to RPI inflation of 3.6%. RPI for April 2025 stands at 4.5%.
“Hedin cannot expect its workers to keep swallowing real terms wage cuts,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham. “Mercedes Benz will not be happy that its brand is being dragged into a dispute over workers facing real terms pay cuts in one of the most expensive cities in the world during a cost-of-living crisis,” said Unite regional officer Lui D’Cunha.
The ballot closes on 9 June.
Structure change for Brayleys owner
Brayleys Cars owner AWR Holdings UK is moving the dealer group to a new company called Athenaeum Partners UK where it will be joined by Johnsons Cars when the takeover is completed.
AWR is owned by the UAE-based al-Rustamani family.
London-based Athenaeum Partners UK, which lists al-Rustamani family members as directors, is in turn owned by Athenaeum International Holdings based in Jersey.
Athenaeum’s purchase of Johnsons Cars, as exclusively reported by Auto Sunday at the start of March, is expected to be completed at the end of June.
When quizzed about the name of the group in the UK and possibly moving Brayleys and Johnsons to a single consumer-facing brand, Brayleys’ marketing director Sara Harris said: “No decision has been made on branding. Both businesses have an established name and strong brand awareness.”
Dick Lovett profit halves in 2024
Dick Lovett saw profit before tax fall from £1.9m to £731k in the year ended December 2024. Turnover was up form £89.4m to £91.7m. “Trading was not without its difficulties with margins on new and used cars significantly down compared to 2023,” said the directors. “Customers also continued to face economic uncertainty, and interest rates remained high… resource was also a challenge given the limited labour market and therefore it has been essential that the group continues to invest significantly in training.”
Pension auto-enrolment to hit 12%?
The government is preparing to review the “adequacy” of pension savings and is expected to scrutinise auto enrolment, reports The Sunday Times. Currently, it requires 8% of earnings to be paid into a pension, with at least 3% from the employer. The pension fund industry warns this raised to 12%, including higher contributions from employers.
This would “inevitably heap extra costs onto businesses at a time when they are paying a higher minimum wage and increased national insurance payments for staff”.
Pensions minister Torsten Bell is expected to launch the review before the summer recess in July.
Flexible working report to launch this week
Ennis & Co will this week launch its flexible working report, ‘business killer or corporate cure?’. 30 senior automotive leaders were interviewed for the report, including people and HR directors, MDs and CEOs. The research uncovered a spectrum of leadership perspectives on flexible working – from being a critical lever for talent acquisition and retention, to concerns around operational cohesion and productivity.
Sign up here and be the first to receive the report: https://ennisco.com/flexible-working-report/
WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday, GFK consumer confidence
Tuesday, BRC shop price index
Thursday, Auto Trader full year
Friday, Nationwide house price index
DATA INSIGHT
Jaecoo 7 an in-demand new car says Auto Trader
3rd: Jaecoo 7’s position in Auto Trader’s most in-demand new car models during May 2025, based on enquiries and leads. Another new entrant, BYD, was sixth, with the Seal U. The Range Rover Sport and Volkswagen Golf topped the list.
UK workers avoiding tax ‘cliff-edge’
1 million: the number of taxpayers positioned just below the £50,270 higher rate tax bracket to avoid losing childcare benefits. The Times reports the number is up 50% in five years.
GLOBAL AUTO
US OEM dismay that UK tariffs lower than Canada, Mexico
American OEMs have “expressed dismay” over the preferential tariffs agreed with President Trump for the UK, because it means cars will be subject to a lower tariff rate than vehicles from Canada and Mexico. They are now lobbying the White House to urgently change this.
Nissan to sell global HQ?
Cash-strapped Nissan is reportedly planning to sell its 22-storey global HQ in downtown Yokohama to fund its urgent restructuring plan, reports Automotive News. It was opened by former CEO Carlos Ghosn in 2009.
OPINION
AI, job hunting and the vanishing career ladder
UK automotive, within both retail and manufacturing, has long been a training ground for talent. From the showroom to the boardroom, career progression often began in junior roles where young people learned the ropes. But the rise of AI is reshaping that pathway, both for those applying for jobs and for the companies hiring them.
Today’s university students are more tech-savvy than ever, and many are now using AI tools like ChatGPT and CV optimisers to help them write job applications, craft cover letters, and prepare for interviews. What was once a painstaking process of introspection and revision can now be completed in minutes. On the surface, this seems like an efficiency win. But it raises uncomfortable questions about authenticity and long-term skill development.
At the same time, employers are increasingly relying on AI-driven recruitment software to sift through the deluge of applications. These systems analyse keywords, score personality traits based on written responses, and even conduct preliminary video interviews using facial recognition and sentiment analysis. While this may streamline hiring, it also risks filtering out qualified candidates who don’t game the system correctly or who are less proficient at using AI tools themselves.
As the father to a university student, I get direct feedback on the depressing experience. I also hear from employers who, when they have moved from AI filtering to interviewing candidates, it becomes clear some applicants haven’t even read their own (AI generated) covering letters.
More worryingly, many of the entry-level jobs that once gave graduates and apprentices hands-on experience are now being automated. Data entry, basic diagnostics, customer service queries – roles that were once the starting point of a career – are now being handled by algorithms and chatbots. In retailers, parts of the sales funnel have been digitised. In engineering departments, simulation software and generative design tools are doing work that used to fall to junior staff.
This poses a serious long-term threat. If young professionals aren’t given the opportunity to build foundational skills through real-world experience, where will the next generation of senior leaders, product planners or retail directors come from? Without the ability to climb the ladder, we risk creating a skills vacuum at the top just a decade from now.
Moving to prevent this is essential for longer term success. AI should be used to enhance, not replace, early career development. That means investing in hybrid roles, mentorship programmes and hands-on learning opportunities to bridge the gap between automation and apprenticeship. If we’re not careful, the very technology that promises progress could end up stalling the careers of tomorrow’s automotive leaders.
Tristan Young
Editorial Director
Get in touch: tristan@autosunday.co.uk
ISSN 2977-6597