Sticking to principles

Businesses signing up to the Women in Automotive New Zealand Accord will be held accountable for developing and sticking to an action plan to help increase the number of females in the industry.

The new scheme aims to support the group’s mission to make automotive workplaces more inclusive and boost overall representation of women in the sector, especially in leadership roles.

The accord, launched on May 7, says creating a diverse and inclusive automotive industry will make it fit for the future, represent its customers, deliver high performance and provide a lasting legacy.

“Women are equal consumers of our product however, a low participation rate – and much less in leadership roles – means they have significantly less influence on what product is brought into the country, how that product is marketed to them, and the overall sales and after-sales experience,” it explains.

Women in Automotive has produced a document that highlights reasons for becoming a signatory of the accord, which includes help and advice for developing action plans that support diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. 

Seven principles underpin the accord and member organisations will be supported and held accountable to achieve these. They are: 

• Having a diversity and inclusion policy. 

• Seeking opportunities to include women and encourage diverse views. 

• Taking steps to know and address gender pay gaps. 

• Creating safe and inclusive physical environments. 

• Demonstrating a commitment to growing and retaining female talent. 

• Having a parental leave policy in place, with the policy publicly available to view on the New Zealand parental leave register at gocrayon.com. 

• Walking the talk on diversity by championing the kaupapa of Women in Automotive New Zealand and taking actions to grow the movement.

Upon signing the accord, signatories must submit to Women in Automotive their annual action plan describing the steps they will take towards delivering on each of the seven principles. At the end of each year they will report back on progress.

There will also be an annual summit for the chief executive officers of member organisations and companies where they will share developments with the accord community.

Annual fees are based on the size of an organisation and range from $150 plus GST for businesses with up to four employees to $5,000 plus GST for those with 501 or more staff.

For more details, email info@womeninautomotive.nz or visit the website womeninautomotive.nz.