Women at the Wheel – a network to connect, inspire and enable change

Women at the Wheel is a free external network of talented individuals, dedicated to supporting and providing development opportunities for women in the automotive industry. Led by Sarah Noble, Automotive Consulting Director at Deloitte UK, the organisation looks to support leadership ambition and empower women to develop their own careers.

There is a talent crisis in the global automotive industry, and it’s happening at a time when megatrends like vehicle connectivity, self-driving cars, and shifting consumer preference are creating a complex mobility landscape ripe with opportunities. Developing a competitive advantage in this environment requires talented professionals with diverse perspectives, deep skills, and experience. Women are a critical component of the winning formula, yet female employees represent only a quarter of the sector’s workforce.

Deloitte’s 2018 Women at the Wheel global study showed that the percentage of women in the industry aspiring to senior executive positions has dropped by 10% since 2015. Furthermore, 36% of respondents rated their company as ‘poor or very poor’ when it came to the development of women.

These stats only look to reinforce the driving purpose of the network, which works to a set of guiding principles: inspire women with a dynamic community of diverse individuals, enable career development opportunities, and collaborate across organisations to drive positive industry change. This all-inclusive approach means that we promote and welcome participation from all individuals, regardless of gender or seniority of role.

With its membership recently surpassing 600, Women at the Wheel runs free events throughout the year across the UK, including industry-focused webinars, large-scale networking evenings and intimate coaching and mentoring sessions. There is something for everyone regardless of seniority or career path, and the team are dedicated to ensuring that there are practical outcomes for each attendee to apply in your professional or personal lives.

All members also receive a monthly newsletter which promotes the latest industry trends, links to articles and podcasts, as well as upcoming events. All members are encouraged to share their own experiences and contribute to the network; it really is a collaborative effort! The next event for the network will be an evening coaching event with Sally Fisher, held on Thursday 19 September in Kettering. You can register for a place and look at the range of other events on offer on the website www.deloitte.co.uk/womenatthewheel

So, whilst the industry continues to navigate an increasingly complex landscape, Women at the Wheel looks to inspire, enable and support women in auto. We want to celebrate their successes, develop their skills and importantly, empower them to identify opportunities within the industry with the courage to grab them with both hands.

Find out more and sign up to become a member at www.deloitte.co.uk/Womenatthewheel You can also find Women at the Wheel on LinkedIn, or connect with Sarah directly.