Mercedes forms new partnership with black and minority ethnic engineering group

Mercedes has unveiled its latest partnership in a bid to increase the numbers of black and minority ethnic groups within its workforce.

The F1 team has joined forces with the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers UK [AFBE-UK] that was established in 2007.

The organisation works to inspire people of black and minority ethnic origin to study engineering, to support those who aspire to be engineers, to promote engineering in schools and to increase diversity within the UK's engineering workforce.

At present, whilst an average of 27 per cent of engineering university graduates are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, only eight per cent of UK engineers are from the same group.

In working together, there will be a focus on advisory, recruitment, education, work experience and events that will help the team to achieve its commitment for at least 25 per cent of all new employees to come from under-represented groups in each year up to and including 2025, known as the 'Accelerate 25' programme.

Mercedes chief people officer Paul Mills said: "As part of our programme and commitment to improving diversity within our team and our sport, we have begun to identify organisations who can provide valuable knowledge and support as we raise our efforts on this journey.

"AFBE-UK's wealth of experience in working with organisations and engineering professionals to encourage and support engineers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds into engineering is a perfect fit as we look to widen our appeal and increase the diversity of the talent within our team."

Mara Makoni, corporate partnerships lead for AFBE-UK, added: "Through this partnership we are committed to supporting the team in the implementation of their Accelerate 25 strategy to deliver the outcomes of improving diversity and ensuring the most talented engineers from all backgrounds can access careers within motorsport engineering.

"We are pleased to see that MGP is committed to creating teams that are more reflective of the world we live in; teams that are more diverse and foster inclusion and belonging for people from often marginalised communities.

"To see such an elite brand dedicate real time and resources to this goal is a massive leap forward for engineering.

"Young boys and girls from all origins can now dare to dream about being part of building the brand and sport they have grown up admiring."

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