Ask a member of the public to describe a garage environment and they will likely refer to male mechanics and technicians with any reference to women being in support functions.
Only 13.4% of workers in the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles today are female. The industry is making progress, but with only 13% of senior roles being held by women and the proportion of women in the sector decreasing by about 11% between 2021 to 2023, there is no doubt that action needs to be accelerated.
We have some amazing women who break the mold, who are trailblazers across the whole industry from the shop floor to the boardroom. It isn’t easy and I think it is particularly challenging for those who are in the garage workshops. These Women are awesome!
To support these women and encourage future generations, we must embrace this International Women’s Day’s theme: ‘Accelerating Action’.
Making way for more female technicians
Currently, 62% of women feel uncomfortable visiting a garage alone and 27% believe that technicians treat women differently than men.
The more male-dominated an industry, the more women feel shut out. Research found that young people believe the automotive sector is very male-dominated and misogynistic: no wonder only 4% of apprentices here are female.
All female tech school attendees faced bias. With reports showing that 48% of garages see recruitment of qualified staff as one of their biggest challenges in 2025, encouraging more women into the industry will is very important.
We must also consider employment structures and hiring practices. Lack of parental leave and flexible working, for example, turns companies into revolving doors for women.
FixMyCar is a flexible employer. With our remote and hybrid working structure and flexible working options for employees, we intend to stay at the forefront of best practices for employee wellbeing. I am also proud to say women already represent 37% of our workforce, a number we aim to retain and grow over time.
Steps towards better diversity within the industry are being taken, but there is more to be done. One example of progress is the work of The Automotive Council UK. Its members represent 99% of British vehicle manufacturing and half of the UK’s automotive workforce. They have launched UK’s first Diversity & Inclusion Charter to make the automotive workforce reflective of wider society. Members also pledged to increase female representation to at least 30% by 2030.
But we must remember, it’s not just about getting women in the door. They also need to be able to progress, be celebrated, and have access to leadership positions. Businesses should offer coaching and mentoring, interrogate gender promotion gaps, and rigorously define promotion criteria to support women.
What can individuals do?
I love being in the Automotive Industry, its high passion and high pace. It’s collaborative and people know how to work hard and play hard.
However, industry-wide progress is essential. Women don’t need to wait for change to come from the top. London’s first all-female garage, Spanners with Manners, has become a magnet for female technicians and aims to create a warm, non-judgmental environment for all customers, especially women. And it’s not the only female-owned garage in the UK. These examples prove that women have room to grow in auto repair, even as a minority.
I’ve worked in male dominated environments most of my working life, so coming into Automotive didn’t phase me. I knew that the automotive industry has been a bit male-dominated for a long time, but I was surprised at how often I am the only woman in the room.
Put simply, we need more women! It’s clear from the statistics things won’t change by themselves but equally I see many key players in the industry actively encouraging women to join Automotive, we need women to want to join.