“Choose Automotive” School Visits and LinkedIn Campaign 2026

Social Media Campaign

Choose a picture or make a short 30 second film showing herself at work with colleagues or at her workstation. She does not need to show her face if she prefers not to, but the image needs to be a positive and informative one about the people she works with, the place where she works, or a task that she performs
Write accompanying text that urges others to follow her and choose automotive. It should be brief and compelling and focus on a simple message – why she chose automotive, what’s good about it, and end with encouraging others to choose it too
The text should start with “I chose automotive because….”
The text should end with “That’s why I chose a career in automotive, and why you should too. #ChooseYourFuture #ChooseAutomotive"
Examples of why the ambassador chose automotive could be: advanced technology, nice and inclusive people, the company values, the great training and support given, the career progression opportunities, the workplace setting, or how pleasantly different it is to what she was expecting.

I chose automotive because….

I wanted a job that would allow me to have creative freedom and learn new skills using technology. I’m the Creative Content Producer for the Auto30Club and I’ve met lots of nice and interesting people in their offices, showrooms and workshops, I’ve filmed interviews with many incredible inspiring women, and I’m empowered to design and deliver all the social media activity. Before joining, I didn’t know there were jobs like mine in automotive, but I now know there’s a job for everyone in this industry.

That’s why I chose a career in automotive, and why you should too. #ChooseYourFuture #ChooseAutomotive

School Visits

Visit a local school along with a colleague, and do some preparation on her “Why I chose automotive” story beforehand
Use the Auto30Club PPT slides provided, or create your own company version
The colleague asks Career Conversation questions in a “fireside chat” style for the ambassador to answer
Gamify the session using a quiz to check their understanding about what they’ve heard, or the Yes / No game
Take a photo to showcase the visit and post on social media ( with school permission)

On site

You can target under 25 years career changers by holding an open evening at your workplace, promoted on social media. The format could be a brief talk about the business, the job opportunities, a career conversation with an ambassador, and then networking with future colleagues, with refreshments.

Questions:

Why did you choose automotive?
Did anyone influence that choice? (e.g. your friends, parents or teachers)
What do you like best about your job?
What is the purpose of your role – how are you helping customers and colleagues?
Which GCSEs /A-level/BTECs/ degree did you need for your role?
What steps were involved in the recruitment process? (e.g. application form, interview, selection tests) and what time of year did they take place?
What is your typical day like? (Perhaps bring a “prop” to help explain a task)
Please describe the training you are being given
What will you do next after this job?
What advice would you give to anyone who might also choose automotive?

Example Quiz Questions:

Why did (ambassador name ) choose automotive?
What does (ambassador name) like best about her job?
What training was (ambassador name) given?

Example Yes / No Questions:

In the recruitment process, did (ambassador name) have to send a CV – Yes or No?
Did (ambassador name) say she wanted to be a farmer for her next job – Yes or No?
Are automotive jobs only for graduates – Yes or No?

(The Yes/No Game can lead to more interaction from a younger, quieter or larger group due to the collective response. It works well if you insert some funny questions, and if you print off some cards for them to hold up with a tick or cross on).

Register with a charity to match you to schools e.g. Inspiring the Future, the Careers and Enterprise Company, Speakers for Schools. It is likely that your first visit will have to meet their needs e.g. an activity the school is organising. However, once you have started the relationship you can suggest future visits that meet your needs too.
When initiating contact directly with a school ALWAYS search through the website to find the name and email address of the person responsible for careers and email them directly. NEVER send it to a generic school email e.g. info@ because it will not be passed on.
Select schools with catchment areas that future recruits would be able to commute from to your workplace.
Explain about your company and the type of roles you regularly recruit young people into. NEVER assume the school contact will be aware of your company or anything about the automotive industry.
Include your phone number on the email ( school staff often prefer a quick phone call rather than email).
Suggest a date that gives plenty of notice (at least 4 weeks). Advise that the session is only 30-40 minutes and designed to fit into a standard lesson duration for their convenience.
Make it clear from the start that your visit will be FREE and will help them meet their obligations regarding Gatsby Benchmark 5 “Every pupil should have multiple opportunities to learn from employers about work, employment and the skills that are valued in the workplace.”
If you can offer future workplace visits or work experience (Gatsby Benchmark 6) highlight that – schools usually find it harder to find these opportunities so will see this as very positive. There is a renewed push for this since the government announced that schools have an obligation of 50 hours of work experience per student.
Explain that you are keen to meet all students from any year group, including those with neurodiversity, dyslexia, dyspraxia, particularly females, and whatever their likely GCSEs outcome will be. Studies have shown that youngsters’ grades in English and Maths can improve if they meet someone from the world of work who inspires them to realise the importance of a pass grade. Discourage the school from selecting only male students or those who will leave at 16.
It is unlikely they will respond after just one email. Follow it up after a few days and keep trying until you get a response. School staff are extremely busy and will not prioritise your email – they receive many emails from businesses trying to sell them careers related activities so each time you send a reminder make it clear what you are offering is free and could lead to employment in the future for some students.

Promote the Choose Automotive campaign to potential Female Early Careers Automotive Ambassadors in your company
Decide if you will coordinate the participants centrally and post through the company LinkedIn account, or if you would like them to post from their own accounts
If coordinating centrally, please start each post with an explanation that you are posting on the ambassador’s behalf, and quote them in the text, starting with “I chose automotive because..”. This will be more effective than writing the text about them in the third person
If you would like to have a copy of the school visit materials (only available to Auto30Club member companies) and have a discussion about your plans, please contact Julia Muir directly on julia@auto30club.com
Julia will be happy to help with any further questions about the campaign or the school visits

#ChooseYourFuture #ChooseAutomotive