Fuel/five: 5 things you may not know about the Barbara Cox Award

1) The award is part of WWD

Women With Drive (WWD) is our initiative that exists to celebrate the work of women in the automotive industry. It is an inclusive movement built to support female achievements, aspirations and successes, with a ‘think big’ attitude and a space for every voice. The award is given every year at a special event on International Women’s Day (8th March).

2) The award is named after a real person

The award’s namesake, Barbara Cox, was the daughter of our company’s founder J. M. Cox and an incredible woman. In addition to her business prowess, Barbara was a great philanthropist who helped to instil the value of ‘giving something back’ into our business—something that remains our core belief to this day.

3) Why we give the award

The award is given every year to an outstanding female leader or manager from the automotive industry to shine a spotlight on the achievements of women in a male dominated industry. It’s awarded to a person who shares the traits of its namesake; someone who embraces innovation, inspires others and gives back to her community.

4) It’s now in its third year

We’re thrilled to have awarded two incredible women so far who truly embody the spirit of Barbara Cox. The first winner was Beryl Carney, Head of CVs at JCT600, and more recently, Alison Jones, Group Managing Director UK at Groupe PSA. The award is now in its third year, so if you know someone suitable then make sure to nominate!

5) Judges are from all over the industry

The winner isn’t just decided by members from Cox Automotive. Our judging panel also features a diverse group of people from the wider industry, including Sarah Tooze (Deputy Editor at Fleet News, Bauer Media), Lynda Ennis (Founder at Ennis and Co. LTD), and our two previous winners: Beryl and Alison.

Know someone who deserves to win the award? Nominate them here.