Inspired by International Women’s Day 2019, we’re bringing you spotlights on women working across Lookers who are paving the way in a male-dominated industry.
We discover what motivates them, why they love working at Lookers and how we could get a better balance of gender across the workplace.
Lookers have already taken steps to make the workplace more inclusive for women, with strategies such as creating a female apprentice network, becoming part of the UK Automotive 30% Club and by offering industry leading maternity leave.
However, there is still more to be done before we can become a truly gender-balanced workplace.
We’ve been bringing you stories of women across the workplace, continuing to shed light on the themes of International Women’s Day across the year until the next event in 2020.
This month, we caught up with Jodie McGinley, Service Manager at Glasgow Audi. Jodie started working in the motor trade in 2000 in a Service Advisor role, trying her hand at a range of roles across the industry before becoming Service Manager at Lookers.
Tell us a bit about your background and what led you to work at Lookers.
My dad always had amazing cars when I was growing up, which sparked my interest from a very young age. I worked for VW for five years before joining Lomond Audi and before that I was in car rental so cars have always been in my career.
When Lookers took over Lomond Audi, I quickly saw how things were changing for the better.
Have there been any challenges in the role?
The challenges sometimes come from customers, especially men who, when you introduce yourself, are taken aback that you are female. I suppose they just expect a man in this role.
Have you had any personal challenges or commitments which have impacted your work life and how have Lookers supported you with this?
Yes, last year my son was being tested for Asperger’s and my dad went through a heart valve replacement which took its toll on me, my manager and Lookers were very supportive of me and allowed me time to come in and out of the business without any pressure on me, which helped me immensely.
This allowed me time to focus on my family and not be worrying about my job.
Do you feel that there are equal opportunities for men and women at Lookers?
Definitely, if you want a career Lookers is the company to work for. I have been allowed to move freely throughout the business to various roles and have always been supported in my development.
Do you feel there is a good balance of male and females within your workplace?
There is now, when I started in 2005 the female percentage was probably 15%.
The theme for this year’s IWD was Balance for Better. How do you think we could address a better gender balance across the workplace, not just at Lookers, but in a wider context?
I think that needs to be driven from the automotive industry and promoted nationwide as people will always associate the motor trade as an industry which is predominantly male, when it’s not anymore. We have now more managers in roles who are female.
If you had a daughter and she was to join Lookers, what advice would you give her?
Work hard and you will get the rewards that you deserve, Lookers is a great company which puts the staff first.
Anything else you would like to add?
I feel very thankful and proud of what I have achieved and it is Lookers who have pushed me to do it with the consistent motivation from my line manager and MD. I am really excited to see what the future brings for myself and all my female colleagues.
To find out more about working at Lookers and browse some of our current vacancies, take a look at our careers page, here.
