Joint networking event to celebrate International Women’s Day, encourage more diverse industry

Automechanika Birmingham and Women Automotive Network will jointly host event promoting inclusion in the sector and filling the skills gap

Automechanika Birmingham and Women Automotive Network will jointly host a free in-person networking drinks reception on Thursday 7 March. The event welcomes all automotive professionals and targets the creation of a support network for women in the industry. The event recognises the need to plug the current skills shortage, showcasing a progressive industry. Forecasts suggest that there will be a significant shortfall in the skills needed to service an evolving car parc, particularly technicians qualified to work safely and competently on electric vehicles. Women remain underrepresented in the sector, with around 19 per cent of roles in the automotive supply chain filled by female workers.

Alex Jones, marketing director at Messe Frankfurt, organisers of Automechanika Birmingham says: “It’s important that we take practical steps to create plans together as an industry and tie in with the IMI’s ‘There’s More to Motor’ campaign, which focuses on improving perceptions of our sector and encouraging professionals to consider it when making their next career move. This will allow us to take the conversation from theory into practice and shine a light on these exiting opportunities within our fast-growing sector.”

The special event will take place at Tonight Josephine in Birmingham between 16:00 and 20:00. It will provide an opportunity for attendees to make new connections, while empowering those within the sector, and raising awareness of the diverse opportunities it can offer.

Scale of skills shortfall

A recent report from the IMI (Institute of the Motoring Industry) predicts that by 2030, 103,000 IMI TechSafe qualified technicians will be needed to work with electric vehicles (EVs), increasing to 124,000 by 2032. However, the adjusted forecast warns of a potential shortfall of 4,500 qualified technicians by 2029, increasing to a significant skills gap of 16,000 by 2032.

Women make up 49 percent of the population, yet only fill 19 percent of automotive roles across all areas of the automotive supply chain. This event is part of Automechanika Birmingham’s commitment to taking practical steps to help with the skills shortage in the industry and champion the sector to dispel misconceptions.

According to Business Matters magazine, half of the women they surveyed said they would not consider a career in the motor industry. With a third of women stating that it was never presented as an option to them by their family, school or college.

A recent study from Venson revealed 34 percent of women interviewed, aged between 18 and 24, would consider a job in the automotive sector. However, for older age groups the interest wavers, with just over a quarter (27 percent) of 25–34-year-old women stating they would consider the industry and less than a quarter (23 per cent) of 35–44-year-olds revealing they would contemplate a job in automotive.

Jones adds: “We believe the industry needs to work harder to engage and capture women from an early age to highlight the automotive industry as a choice for females at all ages and skill levels, throughout every aspect of the supply chain, to make it more representative and inclusive. We want to banish the notion that the automotive industry is male-orientated and celebrate some of the fierce females in the industry at all levels to encourage more to join!”

Stephanie May, commercial director at Women Automotive Network adds: “The industry is reporting the highest level of vacancies it has seen for years, yet despite positive steps in the right direction, with many female powerhouses making great strides in leadership roles and beyond, we believe more needs to be done to create equal representation and the maximise the brilliant opportunities available.

“We live in a diverse world. Greater diversity in organisations goes hand in hand with improved cognitive thinking and decision making, which drives better commercial results and a more inclusive culture. Our vision is to help shape a more all-encompassing industry, celebrate others in the sector and encourage more females to join. We look forward to meeting you all soon!”

Registration is open now, with free tickets available here. Women Automotive Network is also hosting a global virtual meetup to celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March. Featuring an inspirational line-up of industry leaders, the event’s agenda and registration are available here.