Pedalling with Purpose. Will’s Ride to Raise Awareness for the JLR Foundation.

What is your role at JLR and how long have you been here?

My name is Will and I have worked at JLR for 9 years. I currently work in the Analytics Team as part of CEX, and help drive the efficiency in our media spend. I come from a marketing background, having previously worked in product marketing at JLR, and various other marketing roles within the UK and France. In my personal life, I have a busy family life with 2 young daughters, Imogen and Freya, and my wife also works in marketing, for an Italian company. I like to keep fit by cycling and going to the gym, and help people out wherever I can.

Tell us more about the JLR Foundation.

JLR Foundation has been established to empower disadvantaged children and young people to reach their full potential. JLR will pledge millions in funding each year to the JLR Foundation, supporting charitable initiatives that benefit children and young people with a focus on driving equity. JLRF strengthens JLR's long‑standing commitment to youth and education initiatives, and aligns with JLR’s Reimagine strategy (which aims to set new benchmarks in environmental and community impact for a luxury business). To find out more, visit please visit: JLR LAUNCHES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION TO EMPOWER YOUTH TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL | JLR Media Newsroom

What is your involvement?

I helped organise a charity bike ride event in 2025, held indoors in Gaydon — right next to the auditorium. Fifteen people from across the business took part, and we aimed to ride continuously throughout the working day. It was a fantastic event, giving people of all abilities the chance to participate and contribute meaningfully to the cause. Although riding indoors might have sounded easy, the lack of forward movement proved mentally challenging for many of us. It was a true test of endurance.

What made you want to get involved in fundraising for the foundation?

Whilst I do not work directly for the JLR Foundation, I am very keen to help support this brand new initiative to help empower disadvantaged young children in the UK. within JLR and help raise its profile. The support from the Foundation themselves has been really great and encouraged me to keep going. I am also thankful to everyone that volunteered to participate, and also to those that have helped guide me in its organisation (when they did not have to!).

What do you hope to achieve from this initiative in a years time?

I hope this event raised the profile of the JLR Foundation within Gaydon, and that this will lead onto a bigger, outdoor event in 2026 where we 'carry' the message of the Foundation to all the sites across the UK (i.e. ride from Halewood, to Castle Brom, Wolverhampton, Whitely, Fen End and finish at Gaydon). I also hope the event encourages other people around the business to raise money for charities of their own choosing. 

 
How has JLR supported you with this initiative?

The Foundation, although brand new, has supported me massively, and really encouraged the participants and myself to continue with this initiative. This has really been a big help to all of us so a big thank you. It’s great that JLR offer 16 volunteering hours each year so this means through support from my manager I can spend a day fundraising for a great cause. The managers in my own team have been very supportive, they were constantly asking questions about how it was going, and offering to help wherever needed. 

And finally, I would just like to give a big thank you to the 15 other participants in the event - we are all from different parts of the business, so we have had to get to know each other, build trust, and ultimately work together to reach our goal! It just goes to show the difference people want to make at JLR.