ABM_1 - Flipbook - Page 61
FEATURE
WOMEN IN AUTOMOTIVE
Rik Adams, innovation delivery director
issue. There's few role models and not
at the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK
enough early-stage expectation setting.
(ACP), explains that there is no reason
"We are an industry with more senior
why this key role should not be reflected
roles dominated by men, so that means
in the makeup of the automotive industry. there are fewer role models for young
He says: “There is no limit, women
girls and women to see as aspirational."
should be able to have any role within
APC works with primary and
any part of the automotive industry.
secondary schools to demonstrate the
“I have come from the manufacturing
pathways within the automotive sector,
and tech business, and the numbers
as well as showing that it can be a career
are not quite where we want them, but
choice for anyone.
there have been women as lineside
This aims to showcase the importance
workers, validation engineers, and
of early-stage expectation setting,
design engineers.
presenting job pathways
“Women have an
that influence future
48% of women
equal call and equal
educational choices
role in the supply
for children. This
feel the car retail
chain and in the
helps establish what
industry. I don’t think
job opportunities are
experience is
there is a specific
available within the
biased towards
limitation there for
automotive sector, and
women, or a reason
that they will be valued
men [...] However,
why it would be any
within it.
different.”
Adams says: “It
women have a lot of includes
Nevertheless,
getting a
a survey by Fleet
complete class of
purchasing power
Assist reveals that
primary school students
in the UK"
the sector is lagging
to do hydrogen or
in workforce gender
electrification and
distribution, with 80%
engineering activities,
of respondents reporting that two-thirds
showing that it is interesting, engaging,
or more of their workers were men, while
and exciting, that is for all kids. Sowing
just one garage out of 5,200 reported an
those seeds is the foundation of change,
even gender split.
because it opens people's eyes to the
This goes beyond a simple numbers
opportunities. You then have the chance
game, Adams says: “The goal is not only
to progress people through school and
to hire women, but to ensure that in
into those subjects that will hopefully
recruitment and running teams women
move them into the automotive industry.”
feel included.
A spokesperson from Deloitte agrees
"It is still down to individual teams
that role models are a vital resource for
and leaders to get the best out of all the
women in the automotive sector.
diversity in their teams.
Discussing the industry network
"In an industry where leadership is
‘Women at the Wheel’, they say:
mainly white men, we need to make sure
“It's always good to connect with
they are educated on how to get the best
different role models outside our own
out of everyone on their team.
organisations. You also see how different
“There is a real benefit to having a
organisations are managing or how
mixed team, so striving to achieve that is
the policies are shaping their career
something we should all try to do.”
development.”
They add: “A younger generation of
Barriers to entry
talent is joining the industry, so we need
While there are benefits to having diverse
to think ‘what kind of authentic role
teams, and scarce reasons why women
model speaks to and represents people
cannot take a more active role in this
in the industry?’”
sector, there are other barriers causing
Impact of culture
the current disparity.
While representation is important,
Adams says: “The barriers are
the work does not stop there. Female →
probably the same as with any societal
Q4 2025 AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS
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