Damien O’Sullivan, MD of VW Group UK

“Volkswagen Group UK is a decade into its DE&I journey and I’m privileged to be joining the organisation at such an advanced stage. I recognise the groundbreaking work which has taken place to bring it to its current position and I’m determined to move the organisation forward to the next level. We’re so proud of our award-winning initiatives, active Employee Network Groups and inclusive intersectional approach, and recognise these elements provide us with a fantastic foundation on which to build the next ten years of progress.”

As the UK’s leading automotive group, and with an aspiration to be the UK’s most diverse automotive group, Volkswagen Group is doubling down on its DE&I efforts. 2024 saw a number of significant developments, with the achievement of Inclusive Employers Gold Standard accreditation, Disability Confident level 2 and consistent 30 per cent females in leadership positions.

Our educational outreach programmes also scaled new heights in 2024, touching nearly 40,000 learners. Alongside our new virtual work experience module, we’re educating more and more people on what the automotive industry is all about, and demonstrating – one stereotype-busting session at a time! - that we’re an exciting, dynamic and inclusive sector.

Damien says: “Where we are today is great, but we know there is always more to do. Our robust data and a clear DE&I strategy which is sponsored from the top down, allows us to see what’s working and moving the dial. People metrics are never the easiest ones to change; the levers are harder to come by and take longer to reap results. But we won’t let that deter us.”

Reaffirming our commitment to the Automotive 30% Club enables ongoing improvement, learning from others and sharing best practice. As an industry we can and must continue to work together to attract, develop and retain diverse talent. Damien concludes: “I’m looking forward to working alongside other industry leaders, and making sure we play our part in transforming automotive.”