Breaking down barriers
4 mins read time
Management and Leadership
Kay McNeil is a transgender female with 20 years of experience working as a vehicle technician, so ideally placed to share her thoughts on working as a woman in the aftermarket, and how she has found the process of transitioning while continuing her career…
“Transitioning within a male dominated industry hasn’t been without its challenges. I have spent over two decades working as a vehicle technician and while there has been a shift in attitude towards LGBTQ+ people, there is still a need for a greater level of understanding.
“I work as a freelancer for Autotech Recruit and, as a result of frequently entering a new working environment, I have a greater insight into the workings of workshops and garages and how people like me are welcomed. As such, I feel that I can play a vital role in educating the sector, it’s why I joined the Autotech Recruit Ambassador programme.
“For many people I encounter within the working environment, there is still an element of fear of the unknown and a lack of understanding can lead to a negative reaction - I see this time and again. However, I have to play my part and with this comes a large dose of humour, if a person is hesitant when they first meet me about saying the right thing, I inject a witty anecdote into the conversation to break the ice – I call this my 7 second rule!
“During my 20 years in the industry, I have seen how significantly vehicles have changed, however the aftermarket, and the people that work within it, have largely remained stagnant. Constrained by tight budgets and a lack of new talent, the focus is on the job at hand and, particularly for those within the independent sector, time is spent on meeting customer demand and keeping businesses afloat.
“There is an understanding that the industry needs to be more diverse and inclusive but for many, particularly those who are nearing retirement, they simply don’t have time to challenge the status quo as the focus is on the job at hand. I have worked as both a male and a female in this industry and while there hasn’t been a significant amount of change, there is a chink of light coming through – and that’s the younger generation.
“While there are still not enough young people entering the industry for those that do, they don’t bat an eyelid when they meet people from all walks of life. I have worked with many young interns and apprentices and diversity and inclusivity is deep rooted within them.
“As for my own experience of working as a woman within the industry, I certainly have a different perspective. For many years we have talked about the lack of females working as vehicle technicians and MOT testers and how they have less strength to carry out some of the more manual tasks. Through the hormone treatment I have been receiving, I can attest to this. My muscle mass has diminished by 45% so carrying out certain tasks are more difficult than they once were, however, it’s all about communication, and being able to speak up when support is needed. That said, the industry is evolving, it’s not all jacks and lifts these days, cars are becoming so technical it’s a case of plugging into a computer to diagnose and resolve issues!
“There are more women entering the sector, but more needs to be done. People from all walks of life, regardless of gender or sexuality, need to be encouraged to work within the aftermarket. My transition hasn’t dampened my passion for the industry, but I can see that education and greater awareness is needed to completely eradicate discrimination.”
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