Jaguar Land Rover is working with the Sector Skills Council Semta in a bid to introduce more women into the male-dominated automated industry.
Having initially put forward 42 female managers to take part in Semta’s Women and Work initiative, the luxury car maker has now doubled its commitment to the programme, having reported a range of benefits, including networking, public speaking and mentoring.
Through the programme, JLR secured funding for training tailored to the individual needs of the female employees including career development planning, coaching, leadership and a series of workshops. Up to £400 per individual is available.
Tim Davis, director, Quality & Automotive Safety Office at Jaguar Land Rover and board champion of the project, said: “We recognise there is talent within the business and we want to equip our female leaders with the right skills to promote themselves within an engineering environment. It’s about fulfilling potential.
“The Women and Work programme has given individuals the confidence to ask the right questions and to think about what they want from their careers. It’s not just about promotion, it’s about enabling women to see what success looks like for them, as an individual.”
Philip Whiteman, chief executive of Semta, pointed to research that suggests UK science, manufacturing and engineering sectors will need more than 200,000 recruits between 2010-2016, to replace retirees and to meet the new demand from growing sectors.
“Women will play an increasingly important role in filling the skills gaps,” he said. “The Women and Work programme will equip them with the skills they need to progress their own careers and contribute to keeping companies like Jaguar Land Rover at the forefront of world manufacturing.”
Other companie to have taken part in the programme include Airbus, Aston Martin, BAE Systems and Novartis.
