Engineering graduate Erin is part of an award winning initiative here at JLR.

Q: What is your role here at JLR and how long have you worked here?

Hello, I’m Erin Wootton, and I currently work as a Component Owner in the Chassis Suspension Team at Jaguar Land Rover. I recently completed the Hardware and Mechatronics pathway of the Graduate Scheme in September 2024 with placements in Durability Robustness and Towing, Vehicle Engineering in Body structures and in the Sustainability Architecture team. Including my Undergraduate Placement, I’ve worked at JLR for four years now. Other than my day job at JLR, I lead the Recruitment and Talent group of the Career Progression Project part of the Women in Engineering & Allies Network (one of our many employee led networks).

Q: Tell us about the employee led network “Women In Engineering & Allies Network” that you are part of?

The Women In Engineering & Allies Network (WIE&A) is an employee-led group focused on promoting gender diversity and supporting women in engineering and their allies, so that everyone can have equally enjoyable careers. The network includes the Career Progression Project which aims to identify and address barriers to women’s career progression within the engineering sector. Women are under-represented in engineering roles and in leadership positions. The “Broken Rung phenomenon” describes how women are promoted into management at a slower rate than their male peers and this manifests as a lack of gender diversity in leadership levels. By fostering a supportive community, the network encourages collaboration among women and their allies to create a more inclusive workplace and personally I really value being part of that community.

Q: What is the Level Up/Levelled Up campaign?

The Level Up and Levelled Up campaigns are initiatives from the Recruitment and Talent group of the Career Progression Project launched in 2023 to enhance women’s career progression in engineering.

• Level Up serves as a recruitment tool that makes job listings more approachable for women, encouraging them to apply by highlighting growth opportunities rather than an intimidating list of requirements. This is then shared to our Women in Engineering & Allies network to increase transparency of open roles and hopefully encourage a more diverse hiring pool from which select the best candidate.
• Levelled Up celebrates the achievements of women who have recently been promoted, sharing their experiences to inspire others and build confidence in those thinking about the next career move. Since 2022 JLR have double its percentage of women in leadership positions in engineering and this success and these women deserve the spotlight.

Q: How has JLR supported this initiative?

JLR has shown strong support for the WIE&A network and its initiatives. Members of the Engineering Leadership Team sponsor each of the working groups in the Career Progression Project, offering advice and making connections that help initiatives like Level Up grow. Within Engineering, the Recruitment Delivery team has integrated the Level Up campaign into their hiring processes, ensuring that hiring managers are equipped with the tools and knowledge to create diverse candidate pools.

We also have brilliant support from our People Chapter, with each working group supported by one of our People Partners, ensuring everything we do aligns with their strategy and benefits from their experience in the HR space. From running Immersion sessions and speaking in different forums, there has been a fantastic appetite for the campaign across the business and brilliant discussions around it’s importance at JLR.

Q: Tell us about the award.

The Level Up Campaign has achieved a significant milestone by winning the Best DE&I Innovation at the Women Automotive Awards hosted in Germany. This recognition highlights the positive impact that both the Level Up and its sister campaign, Levelled Up, are making in the Product Engineering at JLR.

This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the campaign, the Career Progression Project and the network. This is all employee driven and so to be recognised on an international stage for the work we are doing is a real honour. This recognition not only celebrates the campaign’s accomplishments but also reinforces the commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment for women in engineering.

Q: What’s next for you and the WIE&A network?

Looking ahead, the WIE&A network plans to expand its initiatives further, including extending the Career Progression Project to manufacturing engineering teams and enhancing Level Up’s impact externally. The network will continue to collaborate with other employee networks to address intersectionality and ensure that all minority groups benefit from these initiatives and a truly diverse hiring pool. The goal is to sustain momentum in improving women’s representation and career progression in engineering.

Personally, I’m really enjoying my role as a Component Owner, where I’m gaining valuable experience in the delivery of our Chassis components. Being part of the network has allowed me to grow so much in confidence that I can take back into my engineering role. Presenting to senior leaders, engaging stakeholders and taking a leadership position to deliver results with the team. Therefore, I will continue to volunteer with the WIE&A network to help foster a culture of inclusivity that can inspire future generations.