- Pictured is Alice Altemaire who leads Mobilize Financial Services addressing the issue of women in the automotive sector
A NEW study by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts has found that one in three women would never consider a career in the automotive sector.
Meanwhile the same survey found that 80% of men would consider an automotive career.
The survey was commissioned among 2,000 drivers via OnePoll in August 2024, and while predominantly focused on the experience of women at garages, also considered wider questions that highlighted inequality in terms of perceived opportunities in the automotive sector.
Changing the face of automotive leasing
Broker News has been campaigning for greater representation of women in the broking industry with its series of Women in Broking features, supported by broker funder Drivalia, and its Women in Broking Live! event in London earlier this year.
“While clearly there are plenty of talented women in senior roles in the industry, at Broker News we would like to see more women on boards and taking the top roles.”
Senior women have been recognised and lauded at the Broker News Awards, with Sam Ward (Managing Director of Vansdirect) winning the inaugural title in 2023, and Kelly Marshall (Managing Director of Gateway2Lease) winning the 2024 title.
But Broker News believes that more still can be done.
In 2023, the SMMT committed to the ‘30 by 30’ action to address inequality in the automotive industry, aiming to ensure that 30% of those working in the auto industry by 2030 would be female – this figure currently stands at under 20%, says Nationwide.
Talking about the launch of the 30 by 30 initiative, Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive and Chair of the Automotive Council UK Competitiveness and Business Environment Group, said:
“With so much change taking place across the automotive sector, recruiting the brightest and the best is essential to the future success of the industry. The industry has often been perceived – and the facts back it up – as male dominated. We need to change this quickly; gender balance is not just about ‘doing the right thing’, it’s demonstrably good for business. The sector should always be representative of the communities in which it is based and the societies it serves so addressing gender imbalance is non-negotiable.”
Last year, the SMMT reported that just under 20% were female, so there is plenty of progress to be made.
There’s certainly representation at the top of the auto industry: Lisa Brankin leads Ford of Great Britain; until recently Maria Grazia Davino was Group Managing Director of Stellantis; while Linda Jackson, a former MD of Citroen in the UK is now part of the top management team at Stellantis.
In leasing we have Lakshmi Moorthy leading Arval UK and Alice Altemaire heading up Mobilize Financial Services, while Hollie Crumlish is Head of Broker Partnerships at Alphabet; Felicity McNamara is Account Director at Lex Autolease; and Nickie Conde is Sales Channel Lead at Arval UK.
Certainly in the leasing broker sector there are some great female flag bearers:
- Vansdirect – Sam Ward;
- Gateway2Lease – Kelly Marshall;
- Central UK Vehicle Leasing – Geeta Badhan;
- Harmoto Leasing – Hannah-Louise Kirkpatrick; and
- Alpha Contracts Leasing – Lynette Randall.
And while there are some great women moving up the ranks within brokerships, there is still a large imbalance of men in executive positions
How can this change?
At our Women in Broking Live! event, Alice Altemaire suggested to the women present that women should be clear about their long-term aspirations; persistence pays; if you’re offered a role, don’t be afraid to ask for the package that meets your needs; and women’s differences can be strengths – Alice highlighted how she could be outspoken without being regarded as confrontational.
The broker sector in general can be a great place to work, says Molly Kelly of Polestar. She says that she has found the sector both supportive and inclusive.
In her view, women in senior positions have a responsibility to support the next generation coming through and ‘act as mentors to show what is possible in the industry.
“Find yourself a good mentor, knock on all the doors and ask all the questions. You can learn so much from others - and their mistakes. Get a good circle of people around you and that will really help.”
Donna Kelly, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts’ Digital Marketing Manager, has been instrumental in helping the Manchester broker harness the benefits of AI, and featured on the recent BVRLA Leasing Broker Conference panel on AI.
She believes that women can succeed in brokering, but need the right environment to do that – as indeed, in any sector for the automotive industry.
“Our research highlights a significant gender gap, with one in three women saying they wouldn’t consider a career in the automotive industry. Changing this means creating an environment where women feel supported, valued, and included. By building mentorship networks, promoting equal opportunities, and recognising the unique strengths women bring, we can make the automotive sector a welcoming space where everyone has the tools and support to succeed.”
Want to know more about encouraging women in the automotive industry?
- Read our Women in Broking profiles for hints and tips from the women themselves
- The Automotive Council has produced a really useful pdf format guide for employers in the sector (front cover pictured left).
- You can access it for free here: Shifting Gears: How to close the gender gap to drive business performance.
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Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News, the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers. He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe.
