8:54 am, July 14, 2026
Car dealership group Bowker has reported a dip in profits for 2025 as the firm battled a number of external pressures.
Accounts, recently filed via Companies House, show that the Preston-based business made a pre-tax profit of £1.9m in the 12 months to the end of December 2025.
That figure is down almost 30% on 2024’s profit-before-tax of £2.71m, with bosses highlighting ‘weaker margins’ and ‘challenging trading conditions’.
Directors say profits were hit by the hike in employer’s National Insurance contributions as well as increases to minimum wage, higher business rates and rising utility bills.
Despite this, the firm’s turnover did rise 18.3% to £381.39m, largely as a result of the Porsche Centre Bolton site acquired by the firm in November 2024.
The results were filed under the group’s ultimate holding company – W.H Bowker Limited – which also includes its transport, distribution and warehousing businesses.
When it came to the dealership division, the firm took the decision to axe its BMW Motorrad Centre in November 2025, following a strategic review.
Since the end of the accounting period, the site has been transformed to represent Chinese brands Chery and Changan, in a move designed to ‘support its longer-term growth strategy’.
Bowker now represents BMW, Mini, Porsche, Changan and Chery at sites in in Preston, Blackburn and Bolton, while also operating a used car division under its ‘Bowker Select’ brand.
Despite the difficulties, the firm’s adjusted EBITDA did rise slightly from £12.86m to £13.03m.
At the end of the year, interim dividends amounted to £95,000, with directors also proposing a final dividend of £185,000.
Reflecting on the year, in the accounts, the company’s secretary, Andrew Gee, said: ‘The Motor Dealerships division saw a deterioration in gross profit during the year, despite an increase in sales, principally driven by weaker margins due to challenging trading conditions.
‘This decrease was further exacerbated by increases in staff costs, largely arising from higher Employer’s National Insurance contributions and increases to the National Minimum Wage, together with higher property costs driven primarily by business rates and utility price increases.
‘The margin pressures first encountered during 2024 persisted throughout 2025. Wider economic conditions, including weak consumer confidence and elevated interest rates, continued to suppress customer demand.
‘This was further exacerbated by a prolonged period of uncertainty ahead of the 2025 Autumn Budget, which was announced later than in previous years.
‘Challenges associated with zero emission vehicles also continued during the year, driven by the requirement for UK car manufacturers to ensure that 28% of new vehicle registrations in 2025 were zero emission vehicles.
‘The majority of ZEV sales remain concentrated within the corporate market and are generally sold at higher levels of discount than internal combustion engine equivalents.’
Throughout the year, Bowker’s workforce swelled from an average of 900 employees to 953, with staff costs rising to £43.09m from £37.18m.
At the same time, directors’ remuneration rose from £836,000 to £920,000, with the highest paid executive receiving £196,00.
