Motorsport UK has placed joint fifth overall, with a silver ranking, within the 2024 Global Sustainability Benchmark in Sports (GSBS) report.  Their 2024 report is an unbiased, science and data driven publication that is the only internationally accepted and respected ESG/sustainability rating in the sports industry.

As part of this work and benchmarking our approach against best practice we have been reflecting on Motorsport UK’s Sustainability Strategy, published in 2021, and in particular our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Strategy published in 2022 which set out the organisations bold ambition to achieve substantial change within the sport and contributing actively to global sustainability efforts.

Within the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion space, our Expert Committees, (Women in Motorsport/Disability & Accessibility/LGBTQ+/Racial Diversity), appointed in 2021, have played a pivotal part in Motorsport UK’s efforts in fostering diversity and advancing inclusion within the sport.

From the launch of the Race for Diversity initiative and StreetCar Disabled Drivers Scholarship to the creation of Into Speed, a female only Hillclimb programme, and participation within Pride Week and the Rainbow Laces campaign, the Expert Committees have all played a vital role.  They have instilled the practice of engaging those with lived experience in our community before making any decisions and supported us in transforming our work in inclusion, to which thank all the members profusely.

Following a strategic review of the Committee structure, considering best practice from the benchmark and speaking to other sport governing bodies we have a renewed our governance to EDI. In 2025 instead of having four separate expert committees reporting into an EDI Advisory Committee we will streamline our approach to have one integrated and intersectional approach into an expanded Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee.  This has been approved by the Motorsport UK Board and the EDI Advisory Committee.

The Advisory Committee will be tasked with empowering grassroots and community-led initiatives, supported by a new Ambassador programme. Furthermore, Motorsport UK will launch an inclusion grant process to support and amplify positive change.  The existing expertise will still be utilised at every opportunity in a more informal and proactive way, allowing the sport to appoint individuals to task specific working groups across the year.

On the change to the committee structure, Hugh Chambers, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We recognise the vital contributions of the Expert Committees in supporting Motorsport UK to foster diversity and advancing inclusion within the sport. Every member of these groups played a pivotal role, and for that we’re grateful for their efforts.

“As the sector evolves, so must Motorsport UK, and this move strengthens our ability to address essential issues cohesively and effectively. Our aim is to empower communities to take the lead in shaping their initiatives with our full support, embedding inclusion into every aspect of our work.”

The change to the committee structure will come into effect from 2025.