Automotive firm Jaguar Land Rover has launched a campaign to inspire more female students studying STEM subjects to pursue a career in the automotive sector.
The Furthering Futures campaign aims to quash outdated stereotypes by giving young women an in-depth insight at careers in the sector with opportunities to meet pioneering women from around the business and hear their inspirational stories.
The launch event at Ashorne Hill Conference Centre, Leamington Spa, attracted 80 talented female A-level and undergraduate students from across the UK including the Black Country.
Alongside talks, the women took part in career networking sessions with women from across JLR and found out how to join its growing numbers of female degree apprentices, undergraduates and graduates.
Elizabeth Hill, JLR's chief product engineer, who was recently named in Autocar’s Top 100 2018 Great British Women in the Car Industry, said: “During my time at Jaguar Land Rover I have worked on developing some of the most innovative technology in the automotive sector. My most recent achievement was leading the development and launch of the new 2018 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, including Jaguar Land Rover’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
"I oversaw the entire product development process, managing the cross-functional teams that delivered the vehicles. Furthering Futures will give talented young women insights into a world they may never have considered before.”
As the automotive industry accelerates towards autonomous driving, connectivity and electrification, there’s a greater need to nurture and support future engineers who will design the vehicles and technologies of the future.
JLR, which has its engine manufacturing centre at the i54, north of Wolverhampton, needs more talented IT specialists, software engineers and developers to lead on projects such as automated driving, artificial intelligence and robotics.
JLR has already recruited more than 2,400 young people on its graduate and apprentice programmes in the last five years.
At the start of the new academic year in September, JLR will launch a Furthering Futures degree apprenticeship application route for female A-level students for the first time.
Applicants who meet the recruitment criteria will be invited to attend a comprehensive and immersive four-day programme at company locations across the UK in October half term so they can learn more about career opportunities and undertake work experience placements with female mentors.
Students can register their interest on www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com.