Driven By Us Official Established

Introduction to Driven By Us CIC & Club - Press Release August 2023

Driven By Us CIC was officially established in April 2023 ,after a year of building in the background, to provide a safe space for minority groups & women of colour working within the motorsport industry. We aimed to provide support and advice to those already in the industry, as well those seeking a career within motorsport. 

Driven By Us' mission is to empower aspiring leaders by actively engaging the community and influencing perceptions in the industry. Our focus as an organisation is to empower ethnic minorities and underrepresented groups within the workplace as well as the wider motorsport community.

Our CIC has also enlisted a specialised advisory board consisting of Dr. Nike Folayan MBE, co-founder of AFBE & technical director at WSP; Naomi Schiff, F1 Sky Sports presenter and ex-racing driver; and Andrew Ducile, operations manager of BCOMS Media & Barabara Phillips specalist in PR, Communication & Marketing.

As individuals, they provide guidance regarding upcoming activations and extended community access to resources in engineering and media.

The Club:

Our club officers were voted in by club members and are:

• President Stephanie Travers - Deputy Team Principal of X44 and the first Woman of Colour to stand on the F1 podium 

• Vice President George Imafidon MBE - Winner of the 2022/23 Engineer of the Year Award and CEO/ Co-Founder of Motivez ,which focuses on improving STEM for underrepresented groups.

• Secretary Ariana Bravo - F1 and Channel 4 presenter who previously led the Driven By Diversity Podcast.

• Secretary Carol Glenn - Has 34 years of motorsport experience and was the UK’s first Marshall of colour.

• Vice-Chair Jahee Campbell-Brennan - An Engineering Consultant specialising in vehicle dynamics with over 10 years of experience.

• Treasurer Yohanes Scarlett - co-author of the Hamilton Commission Report. 

As one of the first ethnic-led clubs to be recognised by Motorsport UK, we are providing a dynamic platform that offers a range of events and programs centred around STEM and Media. 

The club holds monthly meetings ,led by the club president , where we’re able to discuss current barriers within the industry, our personal experiences and the change that we wish to see in the future. After the meetings we decide which action would best implement the change and how we can guarantee its longevity.

We also hold in-person events which inspire members as they get access to role models who relate to their experiences and their drive to break through the barriers present in motorsport.

Our Aims:

Driven by Us hold a unique perspective as all of our members are from minority backgrounds and are successfully working within the industry. We aim to support individuals on both a personal and professional level, providing networking opportunities, career advice and support on how to develop confidence in a competitive industry. We hope that STEM and Media roles within the motorsport industry will eventually become accessible to all.

As an organisation, we will be working closely with schools to inspire and  educate the next generation by providing hands-on, engaging workshops and advice on different motorsport career pathways. 

Our Actions:

Driven By Us focuses on schools in areas with relatively high levels of deprivation and where educational attainment currently falls short against the national average. 

We make visits to schools to provide talks about motorsports and the career opportunities within the sector. Additionally, we work with schools to host workshop days.

As an organisation, we want to ensure the longevity of the changes that we are making. Therefore we plan to strengthen our relationships with the schools, so that we can continue working with the students and providing them with support.

We hope to make a positive impact through our actions and to provide visible role models so young people from all backgrounds can feel represented.