Sara Sloman, the winner of the 2023 Barbara Cox Woman of the Year award, has decided to gift her £3,000 bursary prize to someone else in the sector looking for a personal development opportunity.
Sloman, chief strategy officer at electric vehicle (EV) fintech business Paythru and director of The EV Café, said: “I was honoured to be awarded the coveted Barbara Cox Woman of the Year award. Part of this process was the wonderful opportunity to receive a bursary intended to further my career through a course or progressive self-development in recognition of my achievements and accomplishments to date.
“I celebrate a tireless dedication to sustainable transport, Environmental, Social Governance (ESG), mentoring in the workplace and charitable causes. Overcoming adversity and embracing equity are prevalent themes behind my motivation, but I remain acutely aware that we are facing a skills gap in our electric vehicle industry. It is with this in mind, that I pledged to pay my bursary forward.”
Sloman used the bursary to complete a 10-week training course on leadership and the underpinning factors that build business resilience but has now pledged to pay her experience and knowledge forward.
The funding pot of £3,000 will be paid to the recipient’s training provider of choice via The EV Café. Applications are required by midnight on February 2, 2024, with the winner notified on February 14.
Sloman said: “If you feel you have had an opportunity to progress in our industry but haven’t been able to because of a lack of funding to access a course, then I want to help you and I want you to use my bursary to do so.”
Sam Panayides, Cox Automotive sales director and chair of Women with Drive, the initiative behind the Barbara Cox Award, said: “Sara’s overwhelming urge to pay it forward says everything you need to know about her. She’s a force for good and so deserving of the Barbara Cox Woman of the Year accolade. Gifting her bursary prize to help someone else make great strides in automotive is a selfless act and has the potential to change someone’s career trajectory.”