A CAR dealership, which was launched Chelmsford almost a decade ago, has been named as one of the UK’s most inspirational business - for the third time.

Big Cars, Navigation Road, Chelmsford, which was founded by 34-year-old Essex entrepreneur, Adam Stott, from the spare bedroom of his mum’s house, has once again been named by the London Stock Exchange as one of the UK’s most inspirational companies.

The business, which also has dealerships in Witham, Sudbury and Addlestone in Surrey, has scored a hat-trick of appearances in the annual list of 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain, compiled by the LSE.

And the business is one of only 69 companies to feature in the ranking three times in succession and the only motor retailer.

Big Cars has now expanded to become one of the top 30 largest independent car dealers in the UK.

In just nine years, former car salesman Adam Stott has built Big Cars from a one-man band into a 100-employee firm, selling more than 3,000 cars per year.

It’s pioneering use of social media has enabled it to sell over £60 million worth of vehicles through Facebook, where the company has 360,000 followers, more than any other UK car dealer.

Mr Stott said: “Being included for the first time in 2015 was a tremendous achievement for our business so to feature for the third time as the only car dealer is truly amazing.

"Big Cars is first and fore -most a customer service business that happens to sell cars and it continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the hard work of all the team.

"We expect further growth this year so this fantastic recognition provides extra motivation for us to keep delivering for our customers.”

Mr Stott was recognised as one of the UK’s most innovative entrepreneurs at the 2016 Amazon Growing Business Awards and he is a business speaker and coach.