Women in Dealerships Program Launches in UK
AM’s newly launched Championing Women In Dealerships series kicks off tomorrow, October 15, and is open to women holding management positions within UK dealer groups. The overall effort seeks to raise the profile of motor retailers as attractive workplaces for women advancing their careers.
Support and Board Members
The initiative is free for members thanks to launch sponsor Assurant. AM notes that the development of the program would not be possible without its founding board members, including Jayne Halton, Sue Batterson, and Caroline Burnell. AM editor Tim Rose said he is excited about the support the program has received.
According to Caroline Burnell, eStar’s head of marketing and communications, meaningful progress begins by empowering individuals through platforms. She emphasizes that the real value lies in the subtle yet significant moments this program supports, such as individuals gaining the courage to pursue new opportunities, finding mentorship, or feeling understood by hearing about others’ similar struggles. The initiative merges visibility with actionable steps to support an environment where skilled women can envision their future.
Upcoming Industry Event
The 2026 edition of Automotive Management Live is scheduled for November 11 at Birmingham’s NEC, poised to be its largest event yet. Building on last year’s record attendance of over 1,300 industry professionals and 90 exhibitors, this year aims to host more than 100 exhibitors for the first time.
Programme Details and Registration
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from inspiring guest speaker Sheridan Ash MBE during the morning session. Following this address, participants will join a fireside chat with Karen Wagstaffe and Emily Weaver from the Sytner Group. The event concludes with a networking lunch at Horwood House near Milton Keynes.
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Registration for the October 15 event is open to women in middle- or senior-management roles at dealerships. Only a few remaining free places are still available for the morning session. This initiative is open exclusively to members of the AM community.
Tim Rose, an acclaimed automotive business journalist and editor, boasts over two decades of experience covering the motor retail sector. His credentials include qualifications from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). Since joining Automotive Management and AM-online in 2004, he has served as editor since 2016, during which the publication won the 2020 Automotive Business Publication of the Year Award from Newspress and the 2019 Bauer Media Scoop of the Year Award.
A graduate of Goldsmiths College, University of London, he began his journalism career in local newspapers in the late 1990s but was passionate about cars and motoring so joined Max Power magazine in 2001 as a gateway to specialising in automotive journalism, moving to Automotive Management three years later. Despite having fond memories from driving petrolheads’ dream cars from the Audi R8 V10, Porsche 911 and Maserati MC20 to the Ford Focus RS, Mitsubish Evo VIII and Vauxhall VXR220, Tim is a strong advocate of electric cars (and has not had even oe public charging nightmare experience yet), but he also accepts that currently EVs will not suit everyone.
Automotive Management Live 2026
Gain early access to the full conference schedule across three theaters, featuring over 50 industry leaders offering practical insights, market trends, and real-world expertise. Explore more than 100 exhibitors displaying the latest dealership products, technology, and services.
