The Early Careers activities are kindly co-sponsored by our Patron Gold member companies Group 1 Automotive, Lookers and LKQ UK & Ireland.
The purpose of the Early Careers activities is to encourage Auto30Club members to think strategically about attracting, recruiting and retaining high potential people aged between 16 and 25. Many automotive companies have a “grow your own” approach to recruitment, and so it is essential that the cohort of young people hired is gender-balanced and diverse. This entails actively engaging with populations of talented young people to put automotive careers on their radar, and to dispel assumptions about gender stereotypes. The outreach activities always use diverse female role models, because we are aware that young women need to “see it to be it”, and the use of diverse female role models does not negatively impact the interest that young men have for automotive careers.
The Early Careers activities are a combination of four digital Masterclasses between September 2025 and June 2026, covering topics that are relevant for creating an Early Careers strategy, along with two engagement campaigns that aim to highlight the wide range of careers being undertaken by automotive women. The campaigns are This Girl Is Me in October, and My Early Career Story in February. Both take the form of a week-long LinkedIn campaign, as well as the provision of a set of materials for members to adapt and personalise, to use to engage with their local schools, colleges and universities or when running their own recruitment open days. Advice is also given on how to effectively connect and build long-term relationships with these educational establishments.
What our sponsors say:
![Group 1 Automotive Image of Initiatives [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/sponsor-Group-1-Automotive-Image-of-Initiatives.jpg "Group 1 Automotive Image of Initiatives")
At Group 1 Automotive UK, we are proud to support the Early Careers Masterclasses and Campaigns as part of our ongoing commitment to nurturing future talent and driving a more inclusive, forward-thinking automotive industry.
Supporting early careers initiatives goes beyond business strategy; it reflects our core values: Integrity, Transparency, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Respect. As we continue to evolve our early careers offering, fostering a culture of collaboration, shared learning, and best practice across the industry is essential.
We are proud supporters of the Auto30Club, a network dedicated to improving gender balance across the automotive and related sectors. Through our partnership with the Auto30Club and its members, we’re helping to create opportunities that enable young people from all backgrounds to build successful and rewarding careers in this dynamic industry.
Investing in early careers is about more than preparing for the future workforce; it’s about cultivating an environment where potential is identified, nurtured, and celebrated, regardless of race, gender, or background. By coming together as an industry through initiatives like the Early Careers Masterclasses and Campaigns, we can make meaningful progress toward building a more inclusive and diverse workforce for generations to come.
![LKQ UK & Ireland Image of Initiatives [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/sponsor-LKQ-Image-of-Initiatives.jpg "LKQ UK & Ireland Image of Initiatives")
At LKQ UK & Ireland, we believe our people are our greatest strength, and investing in early talent is key to building a sustainable and inclusive future for the automotive sector.
Supporting the Early Careers activities reflects our commitment to nurturing emerging professionals, providing them with the skills, mentorship, and confidence to thrive. It’s an opportunity to live our values. Championing diversity, encouraging continuous learning, and fostering a workplace where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work. By helping to shape the next generation of industry talent, we’re not only securing our own future success but also supporting the wider automotive industry.
We are equally proud to support the Automotive 30% Club, whose mission to increase the representation of diverse women in leadership aligns closely with our vision for a diverse industry. Through sharing best practices, creating visible role models, and supporting initiatives that open doors for early career professionals, we help build a stronger, more diverse talent pipeline. By working alongside like-minded organisations, we champion best practice in early careers development, demonstrating that inclusion and opportunity from the very start of a career are the driving forces behind a forward-looking industry.
At LKQ UK & Ireland, we actively champion new talent entering the industry, whether through hiring interns and graduates at the very start of their careers or by partnering with organisations like Apprenticeship Central to help our customers discover the next generation of skilled professionals to support closing the skills gap. We recognise that driving meaningful change in our sector requires collaboration, and that is why we are proud to partner with the Auto30Club for the Early Careers Masterclasses and Campaigns to support driving change.
![Lookers Image of Initiatives [photograph]](https://www.automotive30club.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/sponsor-Lookers-Image-of-Initiatives.jpg "Lookers Image of Initiatives")
Driving Gender Inclusion: How Lookers Is Shaping a More Inclusive Automotive Future
At Lookers, we believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is key to driving innovation and
delivering exceptional customer experiences. That’s why we’re proud to be a Gold Patron member of the Automotive 30% Club, actively supporting its mission to achieve a better gender balance across the automotive sector. This year, we’re also proud to be co-sponsoring the Club’s Early Careers initiatives, reinforcing our commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for younger talent.
Our efforts align with our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) agenda and our core values: Simple, Engaging, Transparent, and Inclusive. These principles guide everything we do, from recruitment to career development.
Creating Pathways for Women in Automotive
Since 2017, we have provided over 1000 apprenticeship opportunities. Our Apprenticeship Programmes offer hands-on experience across more than 30 leading OEM brands, and we actively encourage female applicants to join us. Across our business, female service managers serve as role models, and we proudly showcase our female apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week and during other engagement events throughout the year. In Northern Ireland, our inclusive trainee programmes and school engagement initiatives help us reach underrepresented groups and inspire the next generation of automotive professionals.
Leadership Development and Career Progression
We’re also proud of our accredited CMI Leadership Programmes, which saw a 36% female participation when launched in 2023. These programmes equip women with essential management skills and career development opportunities, helping to build a strong pipeline of future female leaders.
Our newly launched Graduate Management Programme also achieved high levels of female engagement with other 40% of graduates being female, offering graduates hands-on dealership experience and the opportunity to work on strategic projects alongside our Executive Committee. This ensures that women are actively involved in shaping the future direction of our business.
Together, these initiatives reflect our unwavering commitment to creating meaningful career pathways for women and driving greater gender balance across the automotive industry. At Lookers, we’re not just selling and fixing vehicles, we’re building a more inclusive future.
Key dates
The Early Careers Masterclasses are open to anyone working within an Auto30Club member company. The campaigns are open to anyone working within the automotive industry.