FROM STEERING SYSTEMS TO STUDENT SUCCESS: IGNATIUS’ MISSION TO GIVE BACK

What is your job and how long have you been at JLR?
In my current role, I work within the Steer by Wire team, working on next generation steering technologies for deployment into our future vehicle architectures. My specific focus is on defining the cool features we can enable with the new technology for our customers. I have been at JLR now a little over 4 years (March 2022 - Second Stint at JLR. My first stint was for 1.5 years (Sept 2017-March 2019) 6 years at JLR in total. When I came back to JLR in 2022, I re-joined in SVO - Steering Wheels and tyres team - As a Steering Engineer, Promoted year later in April to Senior Steering Engineer. Proud moments during this time, delivering the steering systems for Range Rover Sport SV (My favourite car JLR has made) & Defender Octa (The coolest car I think JLR has made).

What inspired you to start volunteering?
It's just always felt natural to me, giving back, supporting people around me to do better to reach their goals - whether it's friends, colleagues, students, or strangers. Outside of JLR, Currently I mentor one university student, one college student, one secondary school student. As well as two JLR colleagues. I also volunteer as a School Governor for two schools in Coventry City Council.

 
How does JLR support volunteering?
We have 16 hours paid time to use over the year to cover volunteering time. I have had very good managers who are flexible so I can do more activities & work flexibly with my hours so no lost time on day job. Within JLR I am on the REACH Committee, although this is also 'volunteering' JLR made a fantastic decision to support those on committees of our ERGs with hours paid work per week for committee related activities.

What does it involve?
At JLR I lead the Partnerships team within REACH (Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage). We have created and lead several workstreams that encourages colleagues to also volunteer their time who are STEM Ambassadors. The REACH OUT Programme which partners with Schools, I created alongside colleagues Tobias Rochester-Bremmer and Yann Avogniko. Where we recruit and work with colleagues to develop a presentation/showcase of themselves, their life and career journey and their role at JLR - how it relates to the cars students see on the road. We help these colleagues present to large groups of students; they can then use these presentations for other volunteering activities after.
Part of the work with partnerships, we also organise impactful activities/opportunities for students on with AMOS Bursary - a charity JLR has a partnership with. We have organised experience opportunities with Jaguar TCS, supported to deliver the very first external DPP Hackathon organised by Mobolaji Oyedele.
We are also planning for the REACH Charity Bazaar, where we have planned an event for our JLR colleagues. We're inviting in external charities to come and engage with them about the amazing work they do, the charities cover a broad spectrum from youth focused work, cultural engagement, teaching, sports. Lots of volunteering opportunities will be on offer and we hope it encourages more colleagues and teams to maximise use of their volunteering hours.
And I get to lead the amazing team doing all this alongside our day jobs.

What moment stands out the most?
When my mentee was accepted onto the JLR Apprenticeship scheme. We had spent weeks developing his researching and presentation skills, interview practise etc. Also, when another mentee I was working with was accepted into a summer Internship at MACE, she performed so well and was offered a graduate placement.
Nothing beats the sense of wonder when standing Infront of a group of students, whatever the age, from primary to college and you can see their imaginations/horizons of what is possible for them in life and career widening. The confidence they gain from that is amazing.
 
Advice to someone who wants to start volunteering.
Just do it, whatever your passion, there's an organisation, an activity, where you can volunteer your time and change lives of people you interact with/benefit from the organisation and enrich yourself as well. You will gain an immeasurable sense of satisfaction from it.