The Royal Academy of Engineering today welcomes the announcement of a formal Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) charter, which has been agreed and signed by Formula 1, all ten teams, and the sport’s governing body, the FIA.
Establishing such a charter was the first of ten recommendations for action in a report by The Hamilton Commission, co-chaired by Sir Lewis Hamilton HonFREng and Academy CEO Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE. The Academy was subsequently engaged by Formula 1 Management to help develop the Formula 1 charter in collaboration with all the signatories.
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Co-Chair of The Hamilton Commission, said: “Formula 1 took the findings of The Hamilton Commission in 2021 seriously, and since then the sport has created a range of initiatives to increase diversity. This charter, which the sport commissioned us to create independently, sets a framework for progress and establishes commitment to both principles and action. It is a key step in F1’s ongoing efforts to improve access and performance, and we believe it will be a catalyst for even more positive impact and cross-sport working.
“I congratulate all the teams in Formula 1 for coming together to achieve this significant milestone in the journey to greater diversity and inclusion within F1 and motorsport more generally.
“Although motorsport is a relatively small sector in engineering, it is dependent on a highly skilled technical workforce that exemplifies the spirit of creativity, innovation and excellence that drives so many engineers wherever they work. It is a sector that punches above its weight in engineering innovation and also in terms of global visibility and recognition—what happens in it matters.”
Dr Rhys Morgan, Director, Education and Skills, at the Academy, comments: “While there is still much work to do, there are many people in motorsport who, in different ways, are working hard to make the culture more equitable, diverse and inclusive. The Charter will help to attract, retain and inspire many more talented engineering and STEM professionals across the full spectrum of UK motorsport roles. It is well-evidenced across engineering and elsewhere that those on the front foot with respect to improving a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) will reap the benefit of even more creative, innovative and successful outcomes.”
The Royal Academy of Engineering is committed to supporting engineering organisations of all sizes with their EDI journey through a range of activities to provide D&I professionals, CEO’s and leaders with the data, knowledge and tools to boost EDI across the profession. Through Culture+ and other support such as the Inclusive Leadership Programme and Graduate Engineering Engagement programme, companies can access tailored resources, expertise, and best practices to advance their EDI efforts effectively. In June this year, the Academy published The EDI engine: Evidencing the business benefits of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in engineering in partnership with Dalberg Advisors that uses data and real-world examples to show how prioritising EDI as a strategic imperative can drive business success in engineering.
Notes for editors
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is multi-faceted and applies across protected characteristics defined in the 2010 Equality Act, including age, disability, transgender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. It can also extend to other diversity characteristics, including socioeconomic status. Diversity is also intersectional as individuals have multiple, interlinked identities that shape their experiences and outcomes.
- MSc Motorsport Scholarships. Another specific recommendation of The Hamilton Commission was to create scholarship programmes to enable Black graduates from degrees in engineering and allied subjects to progress into specialist motorsport roles. Working with Sir Lewis Hamilton’s charitable foundation Mission 44, the Academy recently awarded Masters in Motorsport Scholarships to eight talented engineering graduates of Black and mixed Black ethnic backgrounds hoping to work in motorsport. The three women and five men are the second cohort of students to receive financial and careers support under the innovative programme launched in June 2022.
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