Case Study: Training and Development - Ford Motor Company Ltd

Ford Motor Company is establishing a Women’s Network in Europe. The network will be made up of employees from across the Ford Group of companies, with representatives from all levels.

The network will act as a major hub for promoting role models, developing networks and mentoring, and will have a clear link in to the most senior levels of the organisation. It will contribute to the recruitment, retention and development of women, and raise the company’s profile as an employer and brand of choice for women.

Initial events have included workshops in the UK and Germany, focussing on career planning and development, and the acquisition of tools to support this and to help address potential barriers. The importance of effective networking has been highlighted; in conjunction with ‘International Women of Excellence’ (www.iwe-voice.org) , internal and external events have been leveraged to provide tips on networking and differentiating communication. Mentoring programmes for female employees have been launched and, to date, feedback has been very positive