A TEAM of all-women climbers are heading to Tanzania on 24 February, 2018 to tackle Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest mountain and the team is part of Cox Automotive’s Women With Drive programme.

The programme aims to highlight the role of women in the automotive industry.

The 10 women will complete the challenge over a six day period, returning to the UK two days ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March.

The climbers come from across Cox Automotive, and are based all over England. As they climb to almost 6,000m (19,336 ft) above sea level, the team will face temperatures ranging from 20 degrees during the day to a possible -20 degrees at night.

Alison Fisher, HR director at Cox Automotive, said:

“We know that women are under-represented in the motor trade, and Women With Drive exists to celebrate and highlight the role that women play in the industry.

“The team will complete their challenge a few days before International Women’s Day on 8 March, and will climb the legendary mountain in the name of the campaign’s call to #pressforprogress.

“Each climber has their own personal motivation to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro,  and by sending an all-women team, we believe we’re sending a really powerful symbol of what women can achieve, to our own industry and beyond.”

Michael Buxton, CEO of Cox Automotive, said: “We launched Women With Drive in 2016 within our own business, and last year we invited the wider automotive industry to join the programme.”

“According to a recent survey, 84% of women and 64% of men in the UK believe that gender barriers persist in the modern workplace, and Women With Drive takes a positive approach to championing equality. The programme celebrates and creates opportunities for inspirational achievements, and holds events that allow both men and women to focus on their own personal development.”

As well as promoting equality, the climbers have taken the opportunity to support Cox Automotive’s charity partner, Wooden Spoon, raising more than £15,000 in sponsorship for disadvantaged and disabled children in the UK.