Sir George Kenning (21 May 1880 – 6 February 1956) was an English entrepreneur who grew the family business from a corner shop to a nationwide car dealership that employed around 2,000 people.

Kenning became one of the early pioneers in selling, servicing and financing the use of motor vehicles by industry, commerce and individuals.

By 1891, he was helping his father in his business which was now based at a hardware shop on the high street in Clay Cross, but also had a stall at Chesterfield market.

[2] In 1925, he began an association with Reeve Burgess, a firm that made truck and bus bodies for mounting on lorry frames.

Vehicle-building became another subsidiary business of the Kenning empire, producing milk floats in Shrewsbury and road tankers in Ossett.

Kenning became the first agents in the UK for Lucas electrical components and the first for the Tyresoles system of remoulding tyres for longer life.

[1] As a Justice of the Peace, he served on the bench of the local magistrates court and he was a member of the Chesterfield Hospital Board of Management.

The showrooms in Leadmill Road, Sheffield[7] and Queen Street, Derby occupied what would now be called "prime retail" sites in city-centre locations.

It was opened by George's business associate and friend, Sir William Morris (later Lord Nuffield), who built cars that were affordable to the middle classes at his works in Cowley, Oxford.

There is also an Art Deco style office building (now the Tower Business Park) towards the northern end of High Street.

George lived in a variety of houses during his lifetime, starting in Clay Cross and died at Stumperlowe Hall in Sheffield in 1956.

[4][5] As at 2015, the Kenning family's interests in the motor trade has spanned 4 generations, starting with Sir George's father, Frank.