Autocar launches search for rising female British stars in the car industry

The Autocar Great British Women in the Car Industry event will return this year, with the goal of identifying and promoting the sector’s most promising rising stars and highlighting the opportunities for careers within it.

Run again by leading automotive media brand Autocar, in association with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), and backed by Direct Line Group, Ford and Jaguar Land Rover, the industry’s top 100 rising stars will be announced on June 21, with a series of panel debates, discussions and work groups taking place for winners and invited guests at Twickenham Stadium on the same day.

The top 100 will be selected from the following areas of the car industry: vehicle development, manufacturing, purchasing, retail, marketing, communications, apprentices, motorsport, design and executive. A winner will be selected in each industry sector, with an overall winner then being selected from that shortlist.

Candidates must be nominated by friends, colleagues or their employer. There is no age limit. The shortlisted winners will be chosen based on their influence – and potential future influence – on the automotive industry and within their company, taking into account the size and strength of the business they represent. Dedication to a career in the automotive industry will also be favoured, as well as potential to inspire others to join the industry.

The Autocar Great British Women in the Car Industry judging panel will be chaired by Haymarket Media Group’s automotive Brand Director Rachael Prasher. The panel – comprising Jim Holder, Steve Cropley and Rachel Burgess from Autocar’s editorial team, plus the SMMT’s Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, and Director of Communications and International, Tamzen Isacsson – will select the 100 rising stars at a judging day ahead of the main event.

“I’m delighted that our hugely successful initiative has kick-started a number of ideas around celebrating and inspiring women in the automotive industry, and it is especially pleasing to move the focus on to rising talent,” said Prasher. “The opportunities for rewarding careers in the automotive sector are enormous, and we plan to put the spotlight on its brightest stars working across a wide variety of roles and, through our event at Twickenham Stadium, offer insight and debate around some of the topics associated with this area of the industry.”

Hawes added: “The industry is in great health with record exports, record new car registrations and groundbreaking new technology, so it’s an exciting time to join the UK automotive industry. To continue this growth, we need to attract the most talented people to enter the workplace, so we are proud to be supporting this initiative again this year. We want to highlight successful women who’ve made a difference in UK automotive and to provide inspiration for many others considering their future careers.”

There is no limit on the number of nominations, but they must be registered by April 3. Please send nominations to Autocar’s editorial director, Jim Holder, at [email protected].

Space for the event at Twickenham Stadium on June 21 is strictly limited, with priority being given to 2017 and 2016 winners. However, it is anticipated that a limited number of tickets should be available. Anyone interested in attending should contact Charlene Harry, Haymarket Automotive brand executive, on [email protected].