Turkish Training Initiative Bowax Academy Empowers Women in Auto Care Industry

• Bowax Academy equips women in the traditionally male auto business with hands-on technical skills and leadership training to overcome gender and skill disparities
• 85% of its graduates are employed within three months, many of whom started their own car care companies

As the world car care market continues to grow impressively, to a value of $617 billion by 2027, Bowax Academy is taking the lead in guiding women to the forefront of this revolution. While women drive 85 percent of global car buying decisions, women today make up only 7.3 percent of workers in car maintenance and repair, as stated by the 2024 Catalyst Global Evaluation Report. Bowax Academy is committed to bridging this divide through giving women in the automotive industry practical skills and business development assistance.

Bowax Academy addresses both the gender and skills gaps in the auto industry through an integrated education, employment, and entrepreneurship model. Its founder Lokman İn underscores that the mission is to empower women not only with technical competences to thrive but with leadership capacities to be industry leaders and entrepreneurs.

In a statement, Lokman says, “Most graduates enter the workforce lacking the hands-on skills the industry demands. At Bowax Academy, we bridge this gap by providing practical training and leadership programs that prepare women for real-world challenges.”

This methodology has resulted in 85% of Bowax Academy graduates finding employment within a mere three months of finishing their training. A lot of these graduates, including some who went on to become investors or partners, have also gone on to establish their own businesses after a year.

Bowax Academy's female-centric model responds to an urgent need: though women rule consumer decisions, women are underrepresented in service provision. As per Lokman, “Women must play a larger role in this sector. Their inclusion will drive higher service empathy, quality, and innovation.”

The curriculum of the Academy exceeds expectations of basic mechanical training. It equips women with business skills, customer service skills, and entrepreneurial thinking, ready to excel as both technicians and business owners. By instilling these values, Bowax is empowering women not only to be good employees but also entrepreneurs who would bring innovation and change to the car care industry.