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Kia UK has raised its profile at the Automotive 30% Club with Silver membership, to lead as an employer in equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
Kia UK was one of the first 12 members of the Automotive 30% Club, which was founded in 2016. Sitting alongside patrons and sponsors of the Club, Silver members meet quarterly to discuss key topics and issues.
The Club’s purpose is to tackle one of the most important factors affecting the automotive industry in the 21st century; having the right inclusive leadership and culture to deliver high performing diverse skilled teams. This is essential for the industry to thrive in a time of huge turmoil and technological transformation. To achieve this, the voluntary Club members are each targeting a better gender balance within the automotive industry, with the aim of appointing at least 30 per cent of key leadership positions in the member organisations with women by 2030.
Membership of the Automotive 30% Club enables Kia to work across and with the sector to create an EDI workplace where everyone is welcomed, respected and enabled to play their part in helping drive the future of mobility – critical elements towards the success of Kia UK and the wider automotive industry.
At the start of 2023, Kia launched a new Inclusion Plan covering leadership, recruitment, talent and support for employees with a focus on EDI. As part of this plan, the company partnered with Moving Ahead to deliver inclusive leadership training for all staff; to tackle gender stereotypes, call out discrimination and draw attention to bias. Kia has also updated its policies and reviewed recruitment and development to help it become a better and more diverse employer.
In July last year, Kia UK was named in the 2023 Best Workplaces™ for Women list by Great Place To Work®, for providing a great work environment for all and ensuring there is a positive and supportive environment for women too.
Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK, commented: “I’m really pleased that following a strong focus on diversity and inclusion internally and starting the discussion with our dealer partners on the importance of this, we are now upgrading to Silver membership."
“As part of our ‘Power On’ strategy, Kia is now driving further progress in terms of the profile, representation and development of women. We want to be a brand that creates opportunities for everyone and is recognised for doing this. As part of this, we have asked that every Kia dealership across the UK, whether part of a group or stand-alone, should make a clear commitment towards achieving greater diversity.”
Julia Muir, CEO Gaia Innovation and Founder of the UK Automotive 30% Club, added: “I am delighted that Paul Philpott, one of the founding members of the Automotive 30% Club, has emphasised Kia UK's commitment to the Club by moving to Silver membership this year. It is great to see that Kia UK is making great strides towards building a gender-balanced business, and that through the ‘Power On’ strategy they will be encouraging increased female representation and wider diversity within the dealer network. Under Paul's leadership Kia has built a well-deserved reputation for ensuring that dealer partners are successful and profitable. His support to the network to reap the business benefits of gender balance and inclusive leadership at this time of significant industry transformation is a great example of collaboration and partnership.”
The Club was founded by Julia Muir in March 2016 with 12 founder members to change the game in the automotive sector. The Club and its voluntary members recognise the irrefutable value that women and all specialist EDI networks bring to create inclusive cultures.