Drivers of Change: New Expertise awards recognise the profession starters going the additional mile to make a distinction
Autocar Drivers of Change has returned for a second version to rejoice the rising stars of the UK automotive trade.
Held in affiliation with the SMMT on the Stellantis UK headquarters in Coventry, Drivers of Change: New Expertise was all about shining a highlight on the wonderful people who’re having an impression on the trade within the first phases of their profession.
The purpose of Drivers of Change is to rejoice the automotive trade as a spot the place you possibly can have a thriving profession it doesn’t matter what your background is, and to advertise the trade as an awesome place to work for these from all completely different backgrounds.
Within the second version of those awards, Drivers of Change: New Expertise, winners have been all apprentices or these within the early phases of their profession within the automotive trade – with a particular concentrate on these coming from a background that’s usually under-represented within the trade.
Winners and their visitors have been handled to a busy day of panel discussions and galvanizing visitor audio system, together with two-time Everest-climbing mountaineer Akke Rahman; RAC cellular mechanic of the 12 months Sean Kimberlin; BMW UK sustainability boss and former Driver of Change Jas Singh; and TrustFord apprentice Mel King, whose story of grit and willpower within the face of giant challenges was massively inspiring and related to all our attendees.
Going ahead, Drivers of Change shall be an annual initiative, with an alternating concentrate on trade leaders and rising expertise. Nominations for the following version will open in spring 2026.
Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw mentioned: “Within the midst of one of many automotive trade’s most transformative intervals on document, it is heartening and reassuring to know that it’s wanting far and broad to draw new expertise and is as dedicated as ever to their improvement.
“Autocar is thrilled to have the ability to rejoice the deeply spectacular achievements of the sector’s rising stars, and we look ahead to seeing our winners go on to take pleasure in large success all through their careers – making the trade a greater place to work as they accomplish that.”
Drivers of Change: New Expertise 2025
Extremely counseled
Daisy Ball, CRM Government at Volkswagen UK
Daisy is a shining instance of resilience, ambition, and empathy. Having attended a college in particular measures and been identified with ADHD, she secured a graduate scheme with VW to start her automotive journey – and to indulge her ardour for camper vans! Since then, she has led high-impact initiatives, together with a CRM marketing campaign boosting EV uptake by 10%, AI workshops to upskill her group and the ‘50 Years of Polo’ loyalty marketing campaign. Daisy developed lead administration instruments and supported Skoda UK’s lead high quality monitoring rollout.
Past her position, she drives inclusion by the INSPIRE programme, rebranding communications, managing social media and supporting college outreach. She additionally performed a key position in Volkswagen Group UK’s “The Highway Forward” occasion for future apprentices, empowering college students with skilled abilities. Daisy’s innovation, dedication and dedication to supporting others make her a real Driver of Change.
Yasmeen Bey, IT Cybersecurity Apprentice at Volkswagen UK
Yasmeen is breaking boundaries as a neurodiverse girl in expertise and automotive. Initially learning laptop science at college, she found her ardour for hands-on studying by a Volkswagen apprenticeship. Yasmeen champions underrepresented voices, mentoring aspiring apprentices, contributing to podcasts and high-profile journal options and advocating inclusion throughout the trade.
In her position, she redesigned Volkswagen’s cyber safety consciousness programme, saving £100k yearly whereas bettering engagement, and enhanced IT reporting to avoid wasting the enterprise £200k per 12 months. Internationally, she represented the UK Cyber Group, profitable the Exabeam Risk Searching Championship, and earned the British Computing Society’s Cyber Diploma Apprentice of the Yr award. Via her technical experience, strategic considering and advocacy, Yasmeen helps make the automotive trade extra dynamic, revolutionary and inclusive.
Rebecca Thorn, Transition & Employment Supervisor at Stellantis
Rebecca’s journey into automotive is extraordinary. After 20 years within the British Military and subsequent roles in charity and recruitment, she joined Stellantis by Mission Automotive, which creates pathways for veterans, service households and younger folks outdoors conventional routes. Rebecca designed the Rising Stars programme, mixing coaching and paid placements for individuals who may in any other case be excluded, reaching an 82% employment price and scaling from 40 to 137 individuals in a 12 months.
She adapts army transition methods to mainstream recruitment, strengthening Stellantis’s abilities pipeline and championing various expertise. Rebecca’s dedication and contemporary perspective present how non-traditional pathways can create alternative, encourage others and make the automotive trade extra inclusive.
Verity Archer, Social Media Supervisor, Skoda UK
Verity entered automotive by enterprise and advertising, bringing creativity, digital-first considering and a ardour for inclusion. At Cupra, Seat, and Audi, she led main campaigns, launched digital instruments and delivered high-profile activations at The Brits, Wimbledon and Royal Ascot, surpassing expectations.
Verity additionally chairs Volkswagen Group UK’s Cultural Range Worker Community Group, amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering office inclusion. By combining revolutionary advertising with advocacy, she transforms how the model engages prospects and the way colleagues expertise the office – the very definition of ‘above and past’.
Charlotte Gill, Larger Engineering Apprentice at Ford Motor Firm
Charlotte is the very embodiment of innovation and curiosity within the automotive trade. Drawn to Ford by its transformation towards electrical automobiles and future mobility, she brings contemporary views throughout Inside Trim, Propulsion Controls, Car Integration and Electrical Propulsion Engineering.
Charlotte has recognized systemic testing points and carried out efficient options benefiting a number of groups. Past her technical contributions, she passionately promotes STEM, volunteering at colleges and galvanizing younger folks to pursue engineering careers.
Her dedication to studying, problem-solving and group engagement showcases her potential as a future chief. Charlotte’s mix of technical excellence, creativity and enthusiasm makes her a real driver of change, shaping Ford’s engineering processes and galvanizing the following era.
Josh Russell, Community Growth Graduate at Nissan Motors GB
Josh is a standout expertise in Nissan Motors GB’s apprenticeship and graduate programme. Recognised nationally as East of England Apprentice of the Yr and extremely counseled by the Division for Schooling, Josh combines technical ability, creativity and dedication. He has improved enterprise processes, developed fleet quarterly campaigns, created a buyer satisfaction report and delivered the ‘Defy Bizarre’ used automotive marketing campaign.
His work enhances effectivity, accuracy and profitability whereas supporting a number of groups. As an apprenticeship ambassador, he additionally evokes others to discover careers in automotive. Josh’s drive, curiosity and revolutionary mindset reveal how early profession expertise can affect each enterprise and tradition, making him an excellent ambassador for younger expertise.
Tino Mumvuri, Procurement Diploma Apprentice at Aston Martin
Tino brings ardour, technical ability and management to Aston Martin. As a level apprentice, he helps to handle procurement for V8 Valhalla engine parts (how’s that for a pub boast?), reaching price financial savings whereas sustaining high quality and presenting outcomes to senior leaders. Past his core position, Tino chairs the West Midlands Apprenticeship Ambassador Community, inspiring younger folks and difficult trade stereotypes.
Via college and faculty outreach, he opens doorways for the following era, displaying there’s a place for everybody in automotive. Tino’s mixture of technical excellence, management and advocacy is an inspiration to us all!
Sumayyah Islam, Enterprise Finance Apprentice, BMW Group
Sumayyah is the primary apprentice on the BMW Group’s UK enterprise technique group, bringing contemporary views throughout Logistics, Machining and Meeting. She helps streamline processes, contributes to the corporate’s five-year marketing strategy and has represented BMW at parliament throughout nationwide apprenticeship week.
Sumayyah’s hands-on method, mixed with tutorial studying, permits her to problem typical considering and suggest revolutionary options. She has led a number of tasks, engaged senior management and influenced strategic selections. Sumayyah’s vitality, adaptability and dedication to studying are having a big impact – not simply on a group or firm stage however on the trade as an entire.
Drivers of Change 2025: New Expertise winners
Adam Smith – Common Supervisor, Wells Motor Vehicles Ltd
Amelia Leslie – Senior Programme Planner, JLR
Ben Woodward-Harris – Company Communications and Advertising and marketing Apprentice, BMW Group
Bethan Godfrey – Product Administration Assistant, BMW Group
Charlie Piper-Gamage – Engineer, Supplies Analysis and Growth, Nissan Technical Centre Europe
Charlotte Underwood – Rental Administration Help, Stellantis
Claudia Laurie – Occasion Group Apprentice Graduate, Stellantis
Emily Chapman – Digital Studying Design Apprentice, BMW Monetary Providers
Emily Oxley – Advertising and marketing Apprentice, Stellantis
Emma Smith – Individuals & Tradition Transformation Graduate, Bentley Motors
Eve Mathias – Junior HR Enterprise Associate, Stellantis
Faatimah Tarajia – Gross sales Operations Specialist, Stellantis
Harry Ellis – Paint Unit Apprentice, Stellantis
Harry Muir – Trainee Manufacturing Engineer, Bridge of Weir Leather-based
Hayley Emerson – Apprentice, Rolls-Royce Motor Vehicles
Imani Duda – Early Careers Cohort Lead, JLR
Jack Bayley – Apprentice, Rolls-Royce Motor Vehicles
Jacob Manders – Press Officer, Stellantis
Jacob Mills – Business Apprentice, Stellantis
James McKay – Apprentice, Nissan Technical Centre Europe
Jamie Bowen – Apprentice High quality Engineer, Vauxhall Motors
Jessica Bernard – Artistic Designer, Keyloop
Josh Tipping – Business Graduate, Stellantis
Karl Lopes – Apprentice, Provider Guarantee Administration, Nissan Motor Company
Kate Exelby – Gross sales and Advertising and marketing Graduate, Stellantis
Krishna Patel – Gross sales Planning Information Analyst, Audi UK
Louis Hayes-Hamilton – Heritage Engineering Apprentice, Electrogenic
Madison Levy – Transformation & Sustainability Graduate, Artifex Inside Techniques
Max Norstrom – PR and Public Affairs Government, Thatcham Analysis
Megan Diamond – HR Apprentice, Stellantis
Nova Claasen – Learner Help Coordinator, Inspirolearning (VWG)
Olivia Clayton-Dickenson – Engineering Auto Electrician, JLR
Ollie Campbell – Press Officer, Vauxhall & Leapmotor UK
Ollie Web page – Human Sources Diploma Apprentice, Stellantis
Sagityan Thangarajah – Product & Pricing Specialist, Stellantis
Simon Yang Daigneault – Product Advertising and marketing, Monolith
Sophie Kettell – Product & Model Communications Government, Stellantis
Sophie Philippa Owen – Wellbeing and Service Supply and Technique Coordinator, JLR
Sophie Reynolds – Apprentice, Bentley Motors
Umay Hussain – Industrial Placement Pupil, Stellantis
Vidhyadevi Thangaraj – Industrial Chemist, Artifex Inside Techniques
Willem Pindar – Information Evaluation Engineer, YASA
Firm award: Volkswagen Group UK
This particular award can’t be entered and is chosen by our judging panel on the amount however primarily the standard of entries from an organization.
Throughout all Volkswagen Group entries, there was a transparent dedication and robust observe document from the corporate in creating new expertise and searching far and broad in the way it recruits folks into the trade to begin their careers.
So many nice trade professionals have begun their careers on the Volkswagen Group, and primarily based on what we now have seen in our judging this 12 months, this can be a development that’s set to proceed.
All of the entries from people from the Volkswagen Group made clear simply how sturdy the corporate is in each figuring out and creating new expertise.
