CASE STUDY: WILLIAMS RACING EARLY CAREERS

CASE STUDY: WILLIAMS RACING EARLY CAREERS

© Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited 2021.All Rights Reserved.

IN BRIEF

1The Gatsby Charitable Foundation estimates

that around 50,000 of the UK’s technicians are retiring every year, meaning an additional 700,000

more technicians will be needed to meet the demands of employers within the next decade.

However, according to a 2018 report by the National Audit Office , only 24% of UK STEM

graduates were known to be working in a STEM occupation six months after graduating.

2Williams Racing has an unrivalled track record

of providing giants of our industry with their first opportunity in Formula 1. For a number of years, Williams Racing has been working

actively towards delivering programmes aimed at young people enrolled in STEM subjects or

interested in enrolling in STEM subjects.

These programmes are designed to not only find potential new Williams employees, but also support

young talent on their journey towards STEM positions.

3A number of well-established pathways exist for young

people interested in STEM to join Williams Racing and develop themselves to their full potential. These pathways vary in terms of target age, educational background and duration but all have a common

purpose of identifying the best future talent.

Many alumni from our early career programmes are now embedded within the team in senior positions

and act as role models, both for those within Williams Racing, and for those looking to join.

2© Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited 2021.All Rights Reserved.

1 https://www.gatsby.org.uk/education/focus-areas/stem-skills-in-the-workforce2 https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Delivering-STEM-Science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-skills-for- the-economy-Summary.pdf

“There are many exciting roles and professions within a Formula 1 team. Through our portfolio of early careers programs we provide accessible opportunities for people to start their careers at Williams.”

Nicola Salter, Human Resources Director, Williams Racing

A PLATFORM TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION EARLY CAREERS PROGRAMMES

With a rising demand and shrinking supply of technicians and graduates skilled in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), businesses are being forced to adapt in order to attract young talent interested in STEM.

Since 2002, Williams Racing has been actively supporting and inspiring young talent interested in STEM with programmes such as work experience ‘Taster Weeks’ titled ‘Five days in the life of Williams’ which take secondary school students behind the scenes of an F1 factory to experience what it takes to work for a race team. These programmes are designed to provide equal access while sparking students’ interest in STEM from a young age.


BUILDING THE FUTURE: WILLIAMS RACING TEAM ‘IN-TRAINING’

For young people looking to pursue a career in motorsport, or other STEM related fields, the opportunity to work with and learn from Williams Racing is a dream come true. There are multiple pathways through which prospective employees can join Williams Racing, including Apprenticeships, Industrial Placements and Graduate Programmes.


DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP ALUMNI:

ABI CRAWFORTH, MACHINISTAbi joined Williams Racing as a Mechanical Engineering Apprentice in 2015, completing a four-year programme dovetailing practical training in the Machine Shop with time out on a sponsored course at college. Over the duration of her Apprenticeship, Abi had access to a full-time mentor and became an integral member of the team, representing her colleagues on internal initiatives such as the Williams Racing Staff Forum.

At the end of her Apprenticeship, Abi successfully transitioned to a full-time role as a Machinist before receiving confirmation in mid-2021 that she had been awarded First Class Honours from Buckingham New University as a Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Design.

A Technician apprenticeship is open to those leaving secondary school, who are looking to take up work in manufacturing, and a Degree apprenticeship provides access to many career paths in Formula One.


INDUSTRIAL PLACEMENT PROGRAMME ALUMNI:

LOTTIE GILMORE, GRADUATE DESIGN ENGINEER After completing the first two years of her Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bath, Lottie was accepted onto a 12-month Industrial Placement scheme at Williams Racing as a Junior Design Engineer. Over the course of the year, Lottie designed parts to meet a specific set of requirements, modelling steering, suspension and brake components using CAD software.

After receiving First Class Honours in her degree, Lottie returned to Williams Racing as a Graduate Design Engineer. In her role, she continues to deliver performance to our race cars as well as acting as a a Respect Committee member, representing employee views on Inclusion.

The ‘Williams Industrial Placement Programme’ offers university students the opportunity to gain experience working under the mentorship of an experienced team member.


BUSINESS GRADUATE PROGRAMME ALUMNI:

TESS BROWN, SENIOR PLANNING ANALYST After completing a degree in Product Design and Technology from Loughborough University, Tess joined the Business Graduate Programme in Williams Advanced Engineering. Throughout the two-year rotational programme, Tess enjoyed time with the Finance, Programme and Business Dynamics teams, before graduating to the Planning Function within Williams Racing.

Now a Senior Planning Analyst, Tess takes a lead role in aligning demand and capacity within our manufacturing operations, as well as tracking the status of releases from Aero and Design teams. Tess is also a Respect Committee member, representing employee views on Inclusion.

The ‘Williams Racing Business Graduate Programme’ provides associates with the opportunity to rotate through a variety of different six-month placements until deciding in which area to specialise.


F1 IN SCHOOLS STEM CHALLENGE AND THE WILLIAMS ENGINEERING ACADEMY

‘F1 in Schools’ is an international STEM competition aimed at school children between the ages of 11 and 19. The competition challenges participants to design, manufacture and race a miniature car on a 20-metre-long track. Students form a team, appoint a manager, find sponsors, design their team kit and, ultimately, design, build and race their car. First introduced in 1999 in the UK, the competition now includes over 40 countries. Students compete in regional and national rounds before reaching the World Finals. The goal of the competition is to introduce pupils to STEM in a fun, safe and competitive environment.

Williams Racing holds an ‘assessment centre’ at the competition’s World Finals each year, in search for successful candidates to join the ‘Williams Engineering Academy’. The Williams Engineering Academy is a programme which, depending on the age at entry, can accompany students for up to seven years of their academic development, giving them the chance to be mentored by F1 engineers as they progress through school and university. While the programme begins with early years, the focus of the Academy is to mentor students as they progress through university, supporting their academic journey, and ultimately their career, be it with Williams Racing or elsewhere in STEM.

“At Williams Racing we are passionate about nurturing talent and seeing people develop and progress. It is something that Williams has a proven track record of, with some of the Motorsport industry's very best engineers having worked for Williams during the early part of their careers.”

Nicola Salter, Human Resources Director, Williams Racing


WILLIAMS ENGINEERING ACADEMY ALUMNI:

GEORGE BRITTON, PERFORMANCE ENGINEERGeorge joined the Williams Engineering Academy at F1 in Schools and progressed through the programme while completing his studies at Oxford Brookes University. At University he competed in Formula Student with Oxford Brookes Racing and as part of his course was able to complete a year in Industry at Williams Racing as a Race Operations Placement Student.

Now, six years on from being crowned the F1 in Schools STEM Challenge World Champion, George is travelling to races as a Williams Racing Performance Engineer.


THANK YOU

This case study was written and designed by Enovation Consulting for Williams Grand Prix Engineering, using primary and secondary data sources.

This work is made to the best of our knowledge. We assume no liability for errors, misprints or omissions. All rights reserved.

© Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited 2021.All Rights Reserved.

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CASE STUDY: WILLIAMS RACING EARLY CAREERS