The Winners

Jess is the first female Master Technician within the Toyota retail network. She mentors several technical apprentices, nurturing the next generation of technicians, and has become an inspiring figure for female technical apprentices. She is actively involved in engaging with female students, speaking to them about the range of technical roles available within automotive retailing. She is deeply passionate about encouraging young women to explore careers in the industry, particularly in technical roles. As a result of her efforts there has been a notable increase in the number of female students applying for apprenticeship roles in the company. She serves as the primary liaison between the workshop and customers, and ensures that customers, particularly women, feel confident and not overwhelmed or intimidated by the technical details being discussed. She has significantly influenced the way technicians communicate with customer, with her approach being observed and adopted by her peers, creating a more customer and female-friendly environment. We celebrate Jess for being such an amazing and inspirational role model.

Karena is always the first to volunteer for campaigns that showcase the rewarding opportunities in the sector, especially for women, demonstrating her commitment to making the automotive industry accessible and appealing to all. She is a dedicated advocate for early talent, taking time to engage with interns and actively supporting workplace open days for schools. She has been a pivotal force in inspiring an inclusive culture across the LKQ Euro Car Parts business, serving as a dedicated member of the ED&I taskforce, openly sharing her industry experiences and the challenges she has faced. Her openness has encouraged others to learn and feel supported. She fosters a safe space that allows colleagues to bring their full selves to work. She is a visible and influential presence on social media, and by documenting her day-to-day activities, she offers an authentic glimpse into her role, inspiring a broader audience. She plays a key role in LKQ’s mentoring program, both as a mentor and a mentee, actively seeking to grow and challenge her own development. We celebrate Karena for all she does to ensure that the parts sector is a place where women will thrive.

Laura joined the First Step Trust as an unpaid volunteer whilst she studied for her Motor Vehicle qualification. She is now the Lead Garage Trainer and an invaluable member of the team. First Step Trust is a social enterprise garage engaging people with lived experience of severe mental health problems, drug and alcohol recovery problems, a ‘history’ of offending, learning disabilities and other disadvantages. This amazing woman plays a key part in welcoming these people as colleagues, and supporting them to develop the skills, confidence and competences they need to find work and develop ambitions. She is a role model for the women, enabling them to realise automotive skills are not just for men. She has encouraged and supported disadvantaged women to develop in their roles as trainees, trainers and customer service. Her approach continues to help women overcome some of the negativity faced by disabled and disadvantaged women in the workplace and the community. Katie has been particularly supportive of disadvantaged female colleagues whose disabilities mean that they learn in different ways e.g. because of autism, a bout of depression or anxiety. We thank Laura, for all she does to give stability, skills and support to so many women in need.

Melanie is the only female Site Manager in DLG Auto Services, and demonstrates leadership that inspires and creates a pathway for other women to follow. She has played a pivotal role in the company’s social media recruitment campaign, leading to increased interest from female candidates. She spoke at the International Women’s Day event and has been asked to lead on culture change work, specifically to address “banter vs inclusion” as part of a company-wide culture change programme. This wonderful woman is deeply passionate about nurturing the next generation of automotive professionals, particularly young women. One of her female apprentices recently received an industry recognition award, crediting Melanie as a significant source of support and inspiration throughout her journey. Her leadership challenges outdated notions about women’s roles in the automotive sector, and she is the embodiment of what’s possible when we refuse to let stereotypes hold us back. As one of her nominators said ” She is a woman who passes the ladder down to other women in this business, and it’s a better place for having her here.” We celebrate Melanie for all she does to lift others as she rises.

Sam is a beacon of inspiration within Cox Automotive, actively coaching, mentoring, and empowering women in the organisation to drive confidence, growth, and leadership success. She is the board sponsor for the Women With Drive Employee Resource Group, elevating initiatives that empower women across the organisation. Her commitment to helping other women thrive and believe in their potential has had a transformative impact on many careers. Sam gives compelling talks about why it’s important we bring women into the automotive industry and how to do it; and also why it’s important that men are encouraged and empowered to champion females in the sector and to support with driving this change. Her dedication to making a difference extends beyond the workplace, volunteering with the Samaritans. Her nominator said ” She is clearly an influential role model for women looking to get into automotive, and through this, she isn’t just banging down the door for her own progress, she’s holding it open for others to follow her. True leadership.” We are pleased to recognise Sam for being such an inclusive automotive leader.

Erin has advocated for years (since she became the first female motoring editor of the Telegraph, 15 years ago) to make the car-buying process more accessible for women. She has challenged the industry to build content and retail bridges between female consumers, OEMs and dealers, and she has striven to create bigger awareness around the different needs of female drivers. She used sex-disaggregated data as insight into the way women speak about their cars, and discovered the huge gender gap in EV, exploring women’s concerns around going electric. Erin is the car contributor to Vogue and Marie Claire, showcasing motoring content beyond the traditional enthusiast audience by making it more about lifestyle than performance figures. This amazing woman also co-founded She’s Electric, a national roadshow inviting women to experience electric cars and to ask questions in a pressure-free environment reserved for them. These events combine cars with fashion and homeware brands that also have sustainability as a priority. She has been a valued supporter of the Auto30Club for several years.

We are pleased to recognise Erin for all she does to ensure the industry more effectively includes the female EV customer.