The automotive stars inspiring the next generation

The Automotive 30% Club announced the winners of its Inspiring Automotive Women Awards 2020, celebrating some of the unsung heroes in the industry

While 2020 was a year to forget for many reasons, it was still a time when the industry showed how resilient it was and the skill and determination that runs through the workforce.

To celebrate diversity and talent, the Automotive 30% Club announced the winners of its Automotive Women Awards 2020 this month placing the spotlight on those unsung heroes in the industry.

The awards are unusual in some respects, as anyone can nominate a woman who works within the Club’s member companies, on the basis that they have personally been inspired by them, irrespective of role or seniority.

From the 225 nominations received, 30 winners were announced along with four who received an additional accolade; given special recognition for their incredible achievements.

Clare Wright, Group HR Director at Jardine Motors Group won the Inclusive Leader Award, Alison Jones, Group Managing Director UK and Senior Vice President at Groupe PSA took home the Trailblazer Award, Ford’s Group HR Director Sharon Ashcroft won the HR Director Game Changer Award and Lilly-Ann Hulse, Digital & Technology Degree Apprentice at Bentley Motors took the Rising Star Award.

The Automotive 30% Club was founded by Julia Muir, who is also CEO at Gaia Innovation, and works to build a network of progressive CEOs who agreed that a better gender balance would help to achieve better business performance and address the fact that the automotive sector is seen as a gender-segregated career choice.

It now has 33 members working to have 30% of key roles at their firms filled by women by 2030. The organisation collaborates on programmes to encourage young women to consider the sector.

Muir, talking about this year’s award winners said: “They are actively involved in creating inclusive environments and are also engaged in activities to show that automotive is a positive career choice for women. They are lifting other women as they rise, and as per the motto of the suffragette movement, they are taking real action with “deeds not words”.

Want to find out more about what the automotive can offer? Explore diverse career paths from across the industry