Toyota’s upcoming female talent recognised at awards

Two members of staff at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK have triumphed in awards which celebrate the motoring industry’s best upcoming female talents.

Rhonda Tomlinson and Emma Whyld both tasted success at the recent Autocar Great Women: Rising Stars Awards.

Rhonda, a Kaizen section manager in assembly at Toyota’s Burnaston plant won the Manufacturing category, while Emma, a section manager in employee relations won the DE&I category.

The awards celebrate the motoring industry’s best female talents who are on the fast track in successful careers, with winners chosen across 11 different categories.

Rhonda’s role involves Kaizen improvement activities including the European Production Kaizen Meeting, as well as training and Takt activities (production line speed), safety, quality and labour.

Emma leads the Employee Relations Planning Section with responsibility for D,E&I, internal communications, employee relations and employee engagement.

Richard Kenworthy, managing director at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, said: “We’re all really proud of Emma and Rhonda. Receiving external recognition from Autocar’s Rising Stars is the icing on the cake.

“They have made an amazing contribution to our teams on both a professional and personal level.

“Emma has been instrumental in pushing us to new, better levels of diversity and inclusion within our organisation.

“Rhonda is shining example of quiet professionalism in manufacturing, delivering, with her team, significant improvements in assembly operations.

“I would personally like to thank them both. These awards are well-deserved and testament to their achievements.”