In the past, women have faced barriers and stereotypes that hindered them reaching their full potential, especially in science, technology and engineering disciplines. However, as awareness and efforts to promote gender equality have grown, the automotive sector has experienced growth in women occupying previously male dominated roles.

Russell Coleman, VWSA Human Resources Director, says there are visibly more female artisans, technicians and engineers entering the job market. “Volkswagen is committed to include more women across all divisions of the company, and we are experiencing noteworthy progress on this front,” he says.

Russell says that the global automotive group regards diversity and inclusion as a central foundation for the economic success of the company, and VWSA subscribes to the same views. “We continue to develop and train young women to ensure a substantial skills base. Similarly, we give female operators the opportunity to further their training and qualifications through the Volkswagen Learning Academy,” he added.

Moreover, Russell says women are treated equally within the organisation. Last year, VWSA appointed Martina Biene as the Managing Director and Chairperson of the board, the first ever female to be appointed in this position in South Africa. “By fostering an inclusive environment that values and supports the talent of women, we can harness the untapped potential of a diverse workforce, driving innovation and creating a better future for all,” he says.

VWSA further extends its commitment to women empowerment and development into the community. The Train4Life programme, which runs in schools, is a VWSA education and sports initiative that features an U15 girls' soccer tournament, and a comprehensive life skills programme designed to empower and upskill Grade 8 female learners.

The initiative, which combines soccer training and life skill lessons, aims to unlock the potential of young women and encourage them to aspire to greatness. To date, this programme has supported close to 10 000 Grade 8 female learners from various schools in Tembisa and Alexandra in Gauteng and continues to be rolled out in other areas.