Close Brothers Motor Finance (CBMF) has named Adele Heatlie as its 2024 Inspiring Woman of the Year.
This year’s edition of the annual awards received hundreds of nominations for over 50 female colleagues from across the business - the most nominations ever received. Adele, who works as a Vendor Manager for CBMF, won the award for her exceptional ability to balance her role of managing relationships with stakeholders, as well as her commitment to driving positive change. Adele has been a key part of the Women in Motor Forum, which strives for greater gender diversity and inclusion within the business.
Adele’s enthusiasm for changing perceptions in the industry has seen her lead on projects such as men’s mental health awareness as part of International Men’s Day, as well as her work as part of the Automotive 30% Club, which specialises in sharing best practice on how to increase female representation. This included school visits as part of the ‘This Girl is Me’ campaign, where Adele spoke to students about career pathways, aspirations of young girls and advice she would give to her younger self.
Adele also took part in a National Careers Week panel for International Women’s Day, discussing female role models, careers and what the day means to women. These are just a number of examples of the great work carried out by our female colleagues at CBMF, and we would also like to congratulate five other inspiring women who were Highly Commended:
- Claire Milling, Account Manager
- Vicky Hope, Sales Manager
- Kate Mountford, Operations Performance Partner
- Nicola Jackson, Partner Support Executive
- Stephanie Evans, Senior Underwriter
Adele Heatlie, Vendor Manager at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said: “It’s a privilege to be nominated for this award alongside so many inspiring women across our business.
“Through initiatives such as the Automotive 30% Club and our Women in Motor Forum, we’ve made real progress in making the automotive industry a more diverse and inclusive place to work. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and I’m thankful to all of my colleagues who have been passionate about pushing for change.
“Any movement that's worth pushing needs a village of dedicated individuals, and I’m surrounded by supportive colleagues who continue to push the movement. By talking about things that matter, encouraging women through the promotional pipeline, retaining talent and striving for an inclusive mindset, we’re able to drive change for women’s equality. When we motivate others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better place where women themselves are inspired to be included, which provides a sense of empowerment.”
