12:10 pm, July 14, 2026
The battle for talent remains one of the biggest challenges facing dealers.
From technicians and sales executives to senior management positions, finding the right people has never been more important.
Two firms that earned plenty of praise from dealers this year are Pybus and Indeed.
But topping the rankings for the 14th consecutive time is a recruitment specialist that continues to deliver exceptional results across the automotive sector – Perfect Placement.
It means Perfect Placement is one of the most successful suppliers in Car Dealer Power history.
Managing director Dan Unstead said the award remained as special as ever, despite the company’s remarkable record.
‘We never take this award for granted,’ he told Car Dealer.
‘To be sitting here now and hearing once again we’ve won the Car Dealer Power Award, it just fills us immensely with pride, to be honest.
‘We go out of our way every day to really kind of please everybody and to hear that people appreciate it and take the time to recognise us.
‘We’ll always be grateful for that. So it means a lot, an awful lot.’
Unstead believes the firm’s continued success comes down to building lasting relationships with dealers.
‘We compete with other service providers, so we never take our role in the marketplace for granted,’ he said.
‘For whatever reason, our secret sauce seems to work with our client base. They keep coming back and using us.
‘These businesses have been using us for over 20 years now. Twenty-three years we’ll be in October.
‘It’s been amazing to continue to support those businesses and, of course, welcome new businesses because that’s something we’re doing all the time as well.’
Asked what separates Perfect Placement from its rivals, Unstead pointed to the people behind the business.
‘I genuinely think what separates our staff from our competitors is how much they care,’ he said. ‘They care about doing a good job for everyone they interact with.
‘That’s a candidate looking for work or it’s a client looking to improve their team. They genuinely care.
‘I know that sounds a bit far away, but it’s a sincere, caring approach that they take. I think that’s what stands out. People appreciate it.’
Over the past year, Perfect Placement has embraced new technology while ensuring the human side of recruitment remains at the heart of the business.
‘It’s been incredibly busy,’ Unstead said. ‘We’re trying to stay abreast with the latest innovations in technology, which brings its own set of challenges.
‘There’s a lot of clever products out there that we think are going to revolutionise our world.
‘There’s some elements of that you’ve got to embrace, but in recruitment particularly, we keep reminding ourselves that it’s the human contact that keeps us in touch with reality.
‘Talking to people, meeting with clients, having good conversations is the root of what we do.’
Looking ahead, Unstead said the team remained focused on maintaining the high standards that have seen dealers vote Perfect Placement number one year after year.
‘Sometimes it feels like Groundhog Day in the world of recruitment,’ he joked, ‘but for some reason we love it, so we keep coming back for more.’
- W: perfectplacement.co.uk
- T: 01603 701077
- E: [email protected]
