UK Automotive Diversity & Inclusion Charter launched

The founding signatories represent a fifth of the sector’s manufacturing workforce as well as organisations including Unite the Union and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Together, the sixteen companies are pledging a ‘collective, public commitment’ to create a diverse, equitable and inclusive (DE&I) workforce that is reflective of wider society.

The initiative will support ongoing efforts to retain and attract top talent as the industry undertakes its biggest technological transformation in over 100 years amid critical skills shortages.

By signing the Charter, companies publicly recognise that creating a diverse and inclusive workforce is not only ethically responsible but good for business, with benefits including improved employee satisfaction and productivity, fostering greater creativity from diverse perspectives, and making the sector more attractive to top talent.

Signatories commit to take action in eight key areas with the aim of accelerating progress across all aspects of DE&I within their companies.

Pledges include appointing a board-level DE&I champion; embedding DE&I policies into company values; improving recruitment practices to encourage diversity of applicants; supporting career development for every employee; creating more flexible working environments; and reporting diversity data and progress to the Automotive Council annually.