Bowker BMW has partnered with Pleasington Golf professional Stephen Malone.

Bowker BMW’s collaboration with PGA Performance Coach Stephen Malone is part of a broader BMW UK strategy to connect with the golfing community and support the growth of golf in Lancashire. 

This approach aims to capitalise on golf’s increasing popularity and alignment with BMW’s core values, including sustainability and luxury. By partnering with local golf professionals like Stephen, Bowker hopes to blend inspirational sporting and coaching experiences to inspire more people to take up the sport.

For Bowker BMW, Chris Eccles said: “It’s more than just golf; it’s about promoting a sustainable future and bringing new energy to the sport. Stephen is a great coach and a perfect partner to help us inspire more people to play the game. With BMW’s support, we can impact on and off the course.

“By supporting local talent and development through this collaboration, we can make a difference to the sporting community and even help a little to create local economic and social benefits.”

Stephen Malone is a PGA Performance Coach offering guidance to all levels of golfers, from beginners to playing professionals. With a raft of accreditations, he is an AimPoint Certified Instructor and Scott Cowx Advanced Instructor. Stephen’s online academy and coaching have achieved success in over 10 countries, and he has been providing online tuition for over five years.

Stephen Malone said: “Working with Bowker BMW allows me to bring something unique to the Blackburn community. It’s exciting to think about how to grow the sport locally and engage more people, especially younger players and women, who are just starting to discover golf.”

The partnership coincides with more people taking up golf post-pandemic. According to recent statistics, the number of registered golfers has risen by 5.6% since 2020, now totalling approximately 4.6 million players. 

The sport’s growing appeal among diverse demographic segments also presents a valuable opportunity for BMW to introduce its electric vehicles (BEVs) to an audience that values sustainability.

As the partnership progresses, Bowker BMW and Stephen Malone plan to host various events that showcase the best of golf and sustainability. Over the summer, Pleasington Golf Club will host a range of events.

The events will also offer the ideal setting for Bowker BMW to demonstrate the latest electric vehicles. Many golf clubs have adopted sustainable practices, aligning well with BMW’s commitment to electrification.

Bowker BMW has announced a strategic partnership with performance coach Laura Greenbank to inspire and support more women golfers in Lancashire. This initiative is part of BMW’s broader strategy to engage with local communities through golf.

Laura Greenbank has over 18 years of experience and a specialised qualification in Golf Psychology Coaching. She brings a unique perspective to the partnership with Bowker BMW. This collaboration is designed to elevate mental strategies and performance for local golf enthusiasts, with a particular focus on women and young players.

Laura’s academic background includes a BA (Hons) in Primary Education with a specialism in English and Physical Education, alongside qualifications in Counselling and Mental Health First Aid. She is currently studying for her Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Laura’s decision to start her business, LG Golf Psychology Coaching, blends her Sports leadership coaching skills across several sports with her knowledge of the mental aspects influencing sports performance.

Laura said: “Partnering with Bowker BMW is a fantastic opportunity to reach more golfers, especially women, who want to improve their game. Understanding the psychological aspects can profoundly impact performance. Thanks to the new video series, I’m excited to share my tips with more players across Lancashire.”

The initiative by Bowker BMW aligns with a new BMW UK Golf initiative, highlighting the importance of community engagement at an exciting time for the sport. Golf has seen a notable increase in participation post-pandemic, with a 5.6% rise in registered golfers since 2020, emphasising the growing interest from women and juniors.

Jonathan Rogan, director, for Bowker BMW, said: “The sport of golf promotes not only physical health but also mental well-being. That makes it a perfect match for our brand values, particularly sustainability and community support. We’re excited to partner with Laura and hope many more golfers will be inspired to take up the sport.” 

Laura added: “Golf is more than just a sport; it’s a tool for personal development and mental resilience. I look forward to helping our local athletes achieve their best, both on and off the course.”

The partnership between Bowker BMW and Laura Greenbank will include a range of initiatives, including workshops, personalised coaching sessions, and community events.

These activities are designed to promote golf as a vehicle for health and personal development. By fostering local talent and encouraging participation in local golf events, this collaboration will not only enhance the golf community but also contribute to community cohesion and economic activity.

For more information on the partnership click here.

Bowker BMW is investing a million pounds in electric vehicle charging infrastructure and 50 new electric charging points. 

With one in five UK cars now being battery-electric vehicles, the decision to install new charging points at Bowker on Trident Park in Blackburn reflects the increasing popularity of the growing BMW and MINI hybrid and electric models.

Bowker BMW is already one of the top 25% performing dealers in the UK for electrical vehicle (EV) sales. A high proportion of these sales go to local Lancashire businesses – who will now benefit from the new 22 kw and 50 kw charging points.

For Bowker Motor Group, Chris Eccles said: “This is fantastic news for Bowker and our customers. By investing in new EV chargers, we are addressing some key priorities for Bowker Motor Group. We all know that new chargers are a more environmentally friendly approach to powering vehicles. This is a global trend towards eco-friendly technology.

“Better still reinvesting in our business benefits the local community. We’ve used local contractors to install the new chargers. And by using local suppliers whenever possible, we help build a stronger local economy.”

Similar new chargers went live at Bowker BMW and MINI in Preston earlier in the year. Lancashire-based electric charging installer Smart EV Solutions is installing the new Bowker Motor Group EV chargers. Based in Preston, Smart EV Solutions specialises in commercial and domestic electric charger installations. Established in 2020, the Preston electrical contractors have already installed more than 100 EV chargers and have seen substantial growth in the number of investment companies installing EV chargers over the past 12 months. 

The EV charger investment continues Bowker Motor Group’s long-held environmental focus. This began ten years ago, when Bowker BMW in Blackburn installed 206 new solar panels on the centre’s roof. Since the five-figure installation, the panels have delivered CO2 savings estimated at almost 500 tonnes. That amount is equivalent to the amount of carbon sequestered by 80,000 trees grown from seedlings during the same time.

Then last year Bowker Blackburn installed 323 more. The move will allow the car centre to generate a quarter of its electricity needs from solar energy. It will also help reduce its carbon footprint by saving 26 tonnes of carbon emissions.

For over 15 years, Bowker Motor Group has recycled glass, cardboard, and even rubber tyres that are reconstituted for reuse, including flooring for children’s playgrounds.

Bowker BMW technician Mick Eastham has retired after 47 years with the company.

Mick Eastham, from Preston, began his career in 1977 at Kinders Garage. He joined Bowker Motor Group shortly after, dedicating his professional life to the company and witnessing significant changes in the automotive industry over the decades.

Over the years, Mick has seen numerous advances in automotive technology. In the 80s, technicians had extensive time to service vehicles, performing tasks such as stripping brakes and tuning engines. Today, improved oil quality and digital systems allow for faster and more efficient service.

Mick said: “In the old days, you just got a job and you fixed it. Now, with digital systems and quality oils, we can do more miles and work quicker. It’s a big change from how things used to be.”

Most recently Mick has worked at the aftersales centre at Bowker in Preston. Bigger than a football pitch, the centre is located on a 6.5 acre site on Watery Lane in Preston. It has 30 ramps, two dedicated MOT lanes and a state-of-the-art laser wheel alignment machine.

Bowker MINI has announced its sponsorship of young Lancashire racing driver Ashley Gregory.

19 year-old Ashley, from Rossendale, has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the ranks in British motorsport since beginning her racing career at the age of just 10.

The three-time Junior Ministox Champion will be one of only two female competitors in this year’s Vertu MINI Challenge Series. The partnership with the Blackburn and Preston-based car centres means Bowker MINI will appear on Ashley’s race suit and car and the display banner outside the awning at events. 

Ashley said: “Racing is my life; it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. Bowker’s support is a wonderful validation of my efforts and achievements so far. The Vertu MINI Challenge is a real step up for me. But with the right people behind the team, it’s exciting to dream about what we can achieve together.”

Ashley has loved speed since she was 7 when she raced for fun on a quad bike on homemade tracks. By 2015, she was competing in Junior Ministox, driving against opponents up to 16 years old.

A crash in only her third race failed to halt her progress as she won the overall Junior Ministox Championship three times over the next four years. Despite being only 19, Ashley has already claimed over 120 trophies and secured multiple significant race victories.

In 2019, Ashley debuted in the Junior Saloon Car Championship (JSCC) Scholarship, where she was a finalist. Following this, she and her family decided to compete independently. By 2020, Ashley had already achieved two podium finishes in the JSCC, and by the following year, she added a race win and several fastest lap times to her achievements.

This season, Ashley is competing in the prestigious Vertu MINI Challenge Series for the second year. Her entry into the series in the first year marked a significant step up in competition. Ashley finished P12 in class and enjoyed two rookie wins. A successful season she now hopes to build on.

Jonathan Rogan for Bowker MINI said: “We are thrilled to support a young talent like Ashley. It’s important that Lancashire encourages young people with such a passion for motorsport in the county. Ashley has already enjoyed enviable success. We look forward to seeing more podiums and trophies this season. We are proud to be part of Ashley’s journey.”

With the backing of Bowker MINI, Ashley is set to further her racing career with robust support and resources, underscoring the motor group’s commitment to nurturing local talent and promoting excellence in motorsport.

View Ashley’s website and track her progress: https://www.ashleygregoryracing.com/news