The NFDA has hosted its first Drive My Career networking event, inviting female motor industry apprentices to meet with HR professionals and representatives from car dealerships.

Drive My Career is a platform which aims to attract a wider and more diverse pool of candidates into the automotive sector. One of its key focus areas is to make the sector more accessible and appealing to women, and to connect retail automotive employers with the workforce of the future.

The first Drive My Career networking event was held on December 11, 2019. Event delegates from across the UK included 41 female Apprentice Technicians in the retail motor sector.

They came together to share their industry experiences and discuss ways in which to drive greater diversity, support career progression and create leadership opportunities for women in the automotive sector.

Networking sessions explored the challenges, misconceptions and opportunities of developing a more diverse workforce in the automotive industry. The event also gave delegates the chance to hear from and engage with keynote speaker, Laura Taylor, aftersales manager for Marshall Motor Group, and her career journey so far in the sector.

Representatives from Lookers were also on hand to share and hear experiences with the attendees.

Sue Robinson, director of the NFDA said, “It is extremely positive to see the automotive industry join forces to promote and celebrate inclusivity in the sector, one of the key goals of Drive My Career. A diverse and representative workforce is a huge benefit to automotive retailers, especially in a time when our sector is facing major changes and fast developments.”

“We thank our sponsor, Shell Helix Motor Oils, and all the members of Drive My Career for their continued support. We look forward to hosting more events as part of our Driving Inclusivity in Automotive series”.

Drive My Career promotes apprenticeship and career opportunities in the retail automotive industry by connecting candidates with their next employer from hundreds of dealerships across the UK.

FOr more information, visit the Drive My Career website.