CA Auto Finance UK reflects on Auto Finance Provider of the Year success

A week on from the Finance Connect Summer Awards 2026, Finance Connect is catching up with some of this year’s winners to explore what their awards mean, the strategies behind their success and what lies ahead. First in the series is CA Auto Finance UK, winner of the Auto Finance Provider of the Year award.

The Community award recognises organisations that deliver outstanding customer experience, demonstrate innovation and responsible lending, and make a positive contribution to the automotive finance ecosystem.

“It is a significant validation of our agility and hard work as a company since our transformation to CA Auto Finance in 2023,” he said. “Winning this award demonstrates that our strategic commitment to supporting our network of partners and delivering exceptional service to consumers is highly effective. It is a shared victory for our entire organisation.”

Hughes’ celebrations did not end there. Later in the evening, he was also presented with the Finance Connect Summer Awards’ Outstanding Contribution to the Asset Finance Industry award, recognising his long-standing impact on the sector and his leadership within the automotive finance market.

That commitment has been reflected in the company’s focus on strengthening relationships with dealer and OEM partners while maintaining a strong customer-first approach.

“Our success is driven by deepening our dealer and OEM partnerships alongside our firm commitment to excellent customer service,” Hughes explained. “As a company, we are extremely proud of our ‘captive’ DNA and work hard to ensure that we align closely with each of our OEM partners to meet the needs of their dealer network and customer bases.”

As customer expectations continue to evolve, Hughes believes finance providers must combine digital convenience with accessible human support.

“Consumers increasingly expect the speed and transparency found in their broader digital lives, however they also want to be able to interact quickly and efficiently with real human beings when needed,” he said. “We remain committed to being extremely easy to deal with, offering customer choice in how they interact with us and prioritising ‘right first time’ customer experiences wherever possible.”

Technology is central to delivering that vision, with automation enabling employees to concentrate on higher-value customer interactions.

“Technology is the backbone of our strategy,” Hughes said. “By using technology to handle complex processing, we empower our teams to focus entirely on delivering seamless service for our customers and partners.”

Looking ahead, CA Auto Finance UK plans to build on its momentum by continuing to support its manufacturer partners while investing further in its digital capabilities.

“Over the next 12 months, our focus will be on supporting the growth of our brand partners with flexible, innovative solutions, whilst continuing to develop our digital platforms to further enhance our efficiency and customer experience,” Hughes added.

Reflecting on the Finance Connect Summer Awards evening itself, Hughes said the event was an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the wider industry.

“It was a really enjoyable evening. It provided a great opportunity to connect with industry peers and celebrate collective and individual achievements across the entire asset finance sector.”

“It was a great pleasure and privilege to hand this award to Alex Hughes, MD of CA Auto Finance UK,” said Betteley.

“CA Auto Finance UK under his leadership has grown to become not only a highly successful traditional auto finance lender but also a full suite mobility provider, delivering financial services products directly under the CA Auto Finance UK brand name but also working in partnership with many trusted brands. Very well done again Alex and of course your whole team at CA Auto Bank.”