Driving Diversity
Industry must reflect the society and economy it serves, which means diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the workforce – and the workplace – is crucial.
Industry must reflect the society and economy it serves, which means diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce – and the workplace – is crucial. UK automotive employers have made significant commitments to achieve that ambition, individually and via industry initiatives. Such initiatives include:
Automotive Council UK
SMMT is a founding signatory of the Automotive Council UK, with members representing 99% of British vehicle manufacturing and half of the UK’s automotive workforce.
The Council has launched the Diversity & Inclusion Charter to make the automotive workforce reflective of wider society – the first such collective commitment by any UK industrial sector.
Members have also pledged to increase representation of women within their workforce to reach a minimum of 30% by 2030.
The Council has also published best practice guide – Shifting Gears: How to better recruit and retain women in the UK automotive sector – providing forward-thinking businesses with the right tools to improve gender diversity across all levels.
Diversity & Inclusion Charter signatories
Automotive Veterans’ Career Guide
In partnership with Mission Automotive, SMMT has published the Veterans’ Career Guide to provide industry awareness, career advice and support to Armed Forces leavers considering the well-paid, rewarding job opportunities that the UK automotive sector has to offer.
The Guide is not just for ex-Forces personnel, however, but also the serving military community and family members who are exploring their next career pathway.
In addition to an overview of the UK automotive industry, its different areas and employers, the Guide also includes Veterans’ case studies, skills mapping, employer insights and many automotive networks and organisations that already exist to support Veterans.
Guide chapters include:
- UK Automotive overview
- Roles in manufacturing
- Roles in production
- Roles in aftermarket
- Roles in sales
- Roles in motorsport
- The future of the UK automotive industry
- Career guidance
- Forces-friendly automotive employers
- Useful sources for the Armed Forces community
- Industry awareness and networking
- Online networking
Improving access to mobility
Dozens of vehicle manufacturers are committed to the Motability Scheme, offering people living with physical disabilities with affordable, suitable access to a brand-new car.
The scheme provides cars of all types and sizes, including electric vehicles, with accessibility adaptations such as steering wheels, accelerators, gear sticks, swivel chairs, transfer plates and hoists.
