At the IMI, we believe in a world where a thriving automotive sector is one that welcomes, supports, and empowers everyone. This International Women’s Day, we’re reinforcing our commitment to breaking down barriers and championing a more inclusive industry, where women are not only recognised but empowered in a way that allows them to truly thrive.
Through our work with educators, employers, and policymakers, and initiatives like There’s More to Motor, we’re intent on driving real change and celebrating the vital contributions of women in automotive. We believe in a future where women, and other historically underrepresented groups, are seen to be as competent and skilled as our male colleagues and where these voices are truly heard to drive meaningful change that delivers compelling results.
Hear more from Sarah Whiteside Jones, Director of Membership Engagement & Public Affairs, at the IMI on her career journey and what International Women’s Day means to her.
Can you tell us about your role at the IMI and what your job entails?
As Director of Membership Engagement & Public Affairs at the IMI, I have a broad and exciting portfolio that is all about driving the professional recognition and lifelong career support for the IMI’s membership community, as well as enhancing the IMI’s external reputation, brand and influence across the automotive sector through sector leading research and insights.
A key focus for me and my team is how we can support attracting, recruiting, and retaining talent within automotive, as well as recognising and celebrating automotive professionals and their commitment to ethical and professional standards and lifelong learning.
What is the best part of your job?
For me, the most rewarding part of my job is being able to work with people—both within the IMI and across the wider industry.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be in a position where I can support the development and growth of others, whether that’s my colleagues or our members. Seeing people thrive and take pride in their work makes me immensely proud. Playing a role in providing opportunities to people, supporting them with tools and mentoring to grow, and watching as they exceed all expectations gives me a great sense of pride.
Another highlight of my career is how the work my team and I do – whether in the careers, policy, EDI, or the thought leadership space – can contribute to shaping and driving the future skills needs of our sector, ensuring the importance of professional standards and behaviours, and excellence in education are widely recognised.
I am proud to be part of an organisation that achieves this through three key areas; promoting the sector as a career destination of choice via campaigning and resources; developing the skills of automotive people and equipping new entrants to the sector with the skills and competencies to succeed; and to support our members by providing professional credentials through recognition.
How did you get started with a career at the IMI?
I joined the IMI in 2007, shortly after it became the sector skills council for retail automotive. This shift created new opportunities, including a dedicated careers department, where I successfully interviewed for a Careers Assistant role.
I was fortunate that when I joined the organisation, the IMI saw potential in me that, at that time, I didn’t see in myself. However, thanks to the support from some wonderful female leaders at the IMI, and the commitment to invest in my development, my career began to progress as I was placed on a pathway to becoming the Careers Manager.
This commitment to investing in people and skills is embedded in the DNA of everything that the IMI does, whether that’s providing support for new entrants into the sector, continuous professional development or supporting its staff to grow.
Over time, my role evolved as the careers and membership teams merged to provide better support for our members, and in 2010 , I moved into being the Membership Manager.
In 2015, at the age of 30, I became part of the IMI’s Senior Management Team (SMT). At the time, I was the youngest SMT member, which was a significant milestone for me, as it proved that my gender and age were not barriers to leadership—even in an industry that has been traditionally dominated by men.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you, and why do you think that it is important?
For me, International Women’s Day (IWD) is a moment to pause and reflect on the journey so far. It’s a time to celebrate the milestones that have been achieved across the sector. It is also a time to appreciate that there is still more to do to level the playing field and empower women and other underrepresented communities to flourish. With a decline in the number of women in automotive from 19.6% to 17.5% in the past two years*, it’s important to me that others and I take the opportunity IWD presents to step forward and have their voices amplified, enabling others to see the possibilities available to them.
I believe that sometimes you have to see it to believe it. I remember, when I first joined the IMI, it was the first time I had encountered a female CEO. Until that point, I had never considered a woman could hold a role like that, I had only ever experienced and seen men leading from the top. Seeing it first-hand was inspiring and has had a profound impact on me and my career. That’s when I realised that women could have these kinds of jobs. I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible female leaders who helped me see my own potential, people who believed in me and who gifted me with the opportunities and support to continue to grow. I’ve no doubt that without them my career at the IMI wouldn’t have flourished in the way that it has. That’s why IWD is so important—not just for one day but every day.
As a senior leader, I look back on the young girl that I was and I want to tell her that she is OK just as she is, and that she is capable, and worthy of every opportunity put her way. I feel a great sense of responsibility to pay forward my experience and support other girls and women in their own career journeys, and IWD provides me with an opportunity to share my story and experience with the aim of inspiring other women.
What does empowerment mean to you, and how have you experienced it in your career in the automotive sector?
For me, empowerment is about being given the opportunity to grow. You can’t develop if you’re not given the space and encouragement to try – success and failure are both important parts of that journey and being able to do both in a psychologically safe space is where the magic of learning from that experience happens.
Throughout my career, I’ve had people believe in me and give me the confidence and guidance I needed to take the next step. That’s why I’m so passionate about creating opportunities for others—whether it’s within the IMI, our membership community or across the sector as a whole. I fundamentally believe everyone is capable in the right environment.
What do you think are the biggest obstacles women face in the automotive sector, and how can we break down those barriers?
Generally speaking, there’s an array of challenges that women in automotive continue to face, though I would say a woman’s experience really does depend on the employer and the commitment they have made to building inclusive environments that enable women to thrive. Automotive has many great examples of businesses leading the way in this space, many of whom are members of the Automotive 30% Club.
There are still challenges ahead that need addressing, such as gender bias and stereotypes. Automotive is traditionally a male dominated industry, and there are biases to break down about a woman’s capabilities in technical and leadership roles. Despite the UK doing well to increase women in senior roles, which should be celebrated, there is limited representation from women in CEO roles, which can make it harder to drive systemic change from within.
Personally, across my network one of the most predominant challenges I see facing women (and working parents in general) is work-life balance challenges. Women are significantly more likely than men to assume unpaid caring responsibilities, 10.4% of women in England and Wales, compared to 7.6% of men**. Meaning where there is a lack of flexibility and family/caring friendly policies in place, women can struggle to meet the demands of work expectations, career progression and family responsibilities. This can often lead to women taking a back step to their career which simply hinders progress.
The IMI is intent on supporting to address these barriers. Indeed, the IMI’s Driving Towards Inclusion report – using analysis from the IMI’s Research and Insights Manager, Emma Carrigy – identifies these issues. It highlights that women are more often expected to do caregiving roles, leading to stress and physical health issues. These societal expectations can amplify the challenges faced by women, creating barriers for them in the automotive sector.
This research is key to formulating the work that the IMI does, whether that’s working with employers to foster inclusive workplace cultures, our There’s More to Motor campaign, aimed at encouraging new talent to the sector by dispelling sector misconceptions or providing resources and tools.
I am proud to work for an organisation that is committed to ensuring women in automotive are not just accepted but empowered to succeed.
How do you think the future of women in the workforce is evolving, and what do you hope to see in the future?
The future is changing—UK automotive is already seeing more women in senior roles across the industry, but there is still work to do. We’re seeing organisations such as the Automotive 30% Club making a real impact, but collectively we need to keep pushing forward.
I want to see employers truly invest in creating the right culture and environment for their people. When businesses get this right, they not only support their employees but also drive positive outcomes for their customers.
I also want to see women’s workplace rights spotlighted more. Policies around menopause and menstrual health are key areas that need attention. Women go through significant physiological changes throughout their careers, and too many leave the workforce because their needs aren’t accommodated.
If we want to create an inclusive environment for all, we need to create a level playing field where women can bring their best self to work at every stage of their lives.
Finally, do you have any advice for women considering a career in the automotive sector?
Don’t pigeonhole yourself or make assumptions about what the industry is like. Automotive is an incredible career destination with so many pathways—it’s dynamic, fast-paced, and full of opportunities.
Stay open-minded and explore the possibilities; you might be surprised at where your career can take you, but most of all, believe that you can do anything you put your mind to.
*Source: Driving Towards Inclusion: Sector Report 2024
**Source: ONS February 2023 data
