Autocar kicks off its Great Women: Rising Stars 2021 initiative 15.02.2021: The virtual event, which takes place on 15 June, recognises the top female rising stars in the UK’s automotive industry Individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by a friend, colleague or employer, to be considered by a panel of industr

    The virtual event, which takes place on 15 June, recognises the top female rising stars in the UK’s automotive industry


    Individuals can nominate themselves or be nominated by a friend, colleague or employer, to be considered by a panel of industry experts


    Nominations close at 11.59pm on 16 April


    For further information, visit: https://www.autocar.co.uk/greatwomen/2021

Autocar has opened nominations for its Great Women: Rising Stars initiative, which will culminate in a virtual awards ceremony on 15 June.



Run by Autocar, in association with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), and judged by a panel of automotive experts, the initiative recognises the top rising stars in the UK’s car industry.



In 2019, Emma King, who is at the forefront of Ford’s $11bn investment in electric vehicles through a senior role in purchasing, was crowned the winner of the Rising Stars event. Last year, when the awards celebrated the most influential women in the industry, PSA Group UK managing director Alison Jones was named the overall winner.



Autocar and its panel of judges will recognise an overall winner, as well as other up-and-coming women working in a range of sectors, from design to operations to manufacturing.



The best rising stars will be chosen based on their potential to rise to the top of the automotive industry and will be announced at a virtual ceremony, along with the overall winner, on 15 June.



The day will also include presentations from keynote speakers (soon to be announced), as well as interviews with the rising star winners.



Haymarket Automotive managing director Rachael Prasher, who heads the initiative’s judging panel, said: “We are all so proud to be entering the sixth year of our Great Women initiative, and the third which focuses on the industry’s innumerable rising stars.



“Every year the judging becomes more challenging as increasing numbers of women are nominated by their leaders, peers and colleagues. It is always incredible to see the range of female talent across a huge number of different roles within the automotive sector. The opportunity, through this initiative, to shine a spotlight on those individuals is something the whole judging panel looks forward to every year.”



SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said. “We are proud to be working alongside Autocar once again to recognise some of the women who have recently chosen to work within the automotive sector and are making a substantial difference. This initiative promotes the opportunities available within UK automotive across many disciplines, opportunities that we need filled by the very best from all backgrounds and genders. This is essential if the automotive business is to shape the important future of mobility for everyone.”



The rising stars who have the most potential to make a difference in the industry will be selected from the following 12 areas of the car industry: aftersales and workshop, design, manufacturing, marketing, mobility and digital solutions, operations, people development, PR and communications, purchasing, sales and vehicle development. A winner will be selected in each category, with the overall winner then chosen from that list.



In addition to the up-and-coming women in the British car industry, there is a category for apprentices that celebrates new talent at the beginning of their career in the sector.



Autocar’s Great Women 2021 judging panel will be chaired by Haymarket Automotive’s managing director, Rachael Prasher. The panel – also comprising Mark Tisshaw, Jim Holder and Piers Ward from Autocar’s editorial team, plus the SMMT’s chief executive Mike Hawes and head of communications Karen Parry – will select the women who have the most potential to make a difference in the industry.



Nominations for this year’s awards must be registered by 11.59pm on 16 April. Candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by their peers. Please look far and wide within your organisation for women to nominate - we’re encouraging people to think outside of their immediate team for people deserving of an award.



Please enter via this link: https://surveys.haymarket.com/s3/AGW-nominations-2021



Nominees are also asked to submit information on the following topics for consideration: education and career to date, any outstanding contributions to their area of the business, and any achievements that will make nominees rise above the competition. The supporting evidence should be no more than 155 words per section and should be submitted through the entry portal.







Autocar also photo