The UK’s leading comparison site for MOTs, servicing and repairs, marks the 115th International Women’s Day on 8 th March. The United Nations (UN) began marking the event in 1975 and this year its theme is ‘Give to Gain’ to foster ‘a mindset of generosity and collaboration’ (source: IWD:
International Women’s Day 2026 theme is ‘Give To Gain’).
BookMyGarage co-founder Karen Rotberg leads the business alongside her fellow co-founder and husband Douglas Rotberg. Karen began her entrepreneurial journey as the original founder and managing director of Jobsite, which was later acquired by the Daily Mail. She entered the automotive sector in 1997, launching a series of successful start-ups, including the venture that evolved into TescoCars.com. In 2012, she co- founded TootCars, which briefly became RACGarageCompare before transforming into BookMyGarage.com in 2016.
She said: “I’m incredibly proud of the formidable women who lead across BookMyGarage. Their vision, expertise and leadership have shaped this business and continue to drive it forward. International Women’s Day is a moment to celebrate their achievements, but the impact they have is felt and appreciated every single day.”
BookMyGarage’s female heads of business are:-
Karen Rotberg – Co-Founder
Rochelle Davey – Sales Director – Independents
Jessica Ruddick – Chief Marketing Officer
Kirsty Chandler – Finance & Revenue Operations Manager
Clair Mitchell – Customer Success Operations Manager (Garage Services)
Helen Weir-Willats – Head of B2B Marketing
Increasingly, senior women also feature among the platform’s garage partners including Sarah Petty co-owner of J Petty Motors, based in Goole, East Yorkshire, which she runs with husband Stuart and father-in-law Keith. The partnership with BookMyGarage was one of Sarah’s first managerial decisions in 2016. Sarah is also an advocate for women in the motor industry and, like Karen, has encouraged more females to consider the sector as well as employing women in her own business.
Alongside Sarah, the garage employs two female service advisors – manager Sam Dickinson, who has been with the business for three years, and Gemma Groves. The garage’s first female apprentice, 18-year-old Vilte Dirgelaite, is in the first year of her apprenticeship. They also employ a part time hospitality host Debra Rothery to see their customers into a welcoming, warming environment, helping customers to feel at ease walking into what can feel like a daunting experience. Sarah and her team aim to positively change the way customers approach an independent garage.
Sarah said: “I have so much respect for women who forge a career in the aftermarket sector. The women I have come across in the industry and employ are highly professional and extremely knowledgeable. I am a huge advocate of giving women in the sector a voice and giving them the space to speak up. I hope our experiences will encourage more women, especially younger females who may still be in school or college, to consider the sector – it’s a great place to work.”
According to latest available data from the Department of Transport’s National Travel Survey, in 2024, around 80% of males and 71% of females held a driving licence. For males, the proportion remains unchanged since 2002, but for females, driving licence holding has increased by 9 percentage points in the same period.
