- Comedian Tom Allen to entertain 1,000-strong audience at 107th SMMT Annual Dinner.
- Prestigious event almost sold out with guests from across automotive, adjacent sectors, government and the media.
- SMMT President Mick Flanagan, Vice President for Volvo, JLR, Toyota, Nissan at Adient to set out challenges and opportunities facing sector in keynote address.
Entertainer and comedian Tom Allen has been announced as the celebrity guest speaker for the 107th Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Annual Dinner, to be held this November in London.
Tom is the host of The Apprentice: You’re Fired and is also a regular on Bake Off: An Extra Slice. Other television appearances include Live at The Apollo, A League of Their Own, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Would I Lie to You, The Last Leg, QI, The Jonathan Ross Show, and The Royal Variety Performance. He joins a long list of top comedians who have entertained guests at past dinners, including Al Murray, Katherine Ryan, Bill Bailey, Hennning Wehn and Rob Brydon.
Around 1,000 guests from all sections of the automotive industry, government, media and related industries are set to attend what is one of the most prestigious events in the automotive calendar. The evening will be hosted by SMMT Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, and President Mick Flanagan, Vice President at Adient, who will give a keynote address.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “The SMMT Annual Dinner is always a highlight in the automotive calendar, bringing together professionals from across the industry with government and the media to celebrate its achievements and reflect on the challenges and opportunities ahead. After a particularly eventful 12 months, it’s no surprise this year’s dinner is already almost fully subscribed, and we’re delighted that Tom Allen has agreed to provide our evening entertainment – and no doubt some much needed light relief. I would also like to thank our sponsors, Auto Trader, DHL, Pinsent Masons and Oaklin, who provide crucial support without which an event of this nature could not take place.”
Sponsors for the dinner include:
- Auto Trader is the UK’s largest digital automotive platform. With 77.5 million monthly average visits spent across all platforms in 2024, it brings together the largest and most engaged consumer audience with the largest pool of vehicle sellers.
- DHL is the world’s leading logistics company with more than 540,000 people working in 220 countries, generating revenue of €81.8 billion in 2023.
- Pinsent Masons is a multinational law firm which specialises in technology, science and industry sectors. The firm ranks among the top hundred law firms in the world by turnover.
- Oaklin is an independent management consultancy that deliver large programmes for FTSE 1000 and Fortune 500 companies across multiple sectors.
Ian Plummer, Commercial Director at Auto Trader commented: “We’re delighted to once again sponsor the SMMT Annual Dinner, an absolute highlight of the industry’s winter events calendar. This year has been one for the history books with the zero emission vehicle mandate coming into force and so there’s plenty of hard work and success to celebrate.”
To book one of the last remaining places at the 107th SMMT Annual Dinner visit www.smmt.co.uk/events/annualdinner.