Alison Ross, Manchester Digital chair and chief people and operations director at Auto Trader
Alison Ross, chair of Manchester Digital’s board and chief people and operations director at Auto Trader has been awarded an MBE in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, announced today (June 17).
Alison said: “I have been hugely fortunate to build a rewarding career in technology and my purpose is to open that opportunity to as many people from all backgrounds in Manchester as possible. Digital is an incredible opportunity for our city, we need to work together to unlock its promise as an engine of social mobility and prosperity. I am so proud and grateful to be recognised for doing my bit alongside my incredibly committed colleagues at Manchester Digital.”
Katie Gallagher, managing director of Manchester Digital, said: “We’re pleased that Alison’s incredibly hard work as the chair of Manchester Digital and all of her work at Auto Trader has been recognised with this honour.
“Alison has worked so hard to champion Greater Manchester’s tech sector, and particularly to encourage women and people from diverse backgrounds to consider a career in tech. She truly believes that there is a place in the tech industry for everyone and has worked with us at Manchester Digital to set up various initiatives and programmes for the communities across Greater Manchester to work within the tech industry.”
Nathan Coe, CEO at Auto Trader, said: “I am delighted that Alison is being recognised with an MBE. She has always had an admirable sense of responsibility to the communities in which she and Auto Trader operates. Alison has dedicated countless hours to ensure the region benefits from the growth of the technology industry, and that it is inclusive of women and under-represented communities.”
Alison has worked at Auto Trader for more than 20 years and has served as the chair of independent trade association Manchester Digital for five years, having been a board member since 2015.
Alison goes above and beyond to champion diversity in the workplace and was instrumental in developing Manchester Digital’s apprenticeship programme, and the Digital Her programme which supports women throughout their careers in tech.
She has inspired strategic initiatives that have made Auto Trader an Inclusive Top 50 Company in the UK, the first ever company in the world to achieve the “Autism Friendly” accreditation by the National Autistic Society and a Disability Leader employer under the government’s Disability Confident Scheme. The community and inclusion work she is leading has inspired the 1,000 strong Auto Trader workforce to partner with various charities and community groups across Greater Manchester and the UK to make a real difference.
