Mechanic and graphic design students from Milton Keynes College had the trip of a lifetime around Aston Martin’s Aramco Formula® One Team’s AMR Technology Campus at Silverstone.  The visit was made possible by a collaboration between the College, the racing team, and global leader in automotive and industrial solutions, Valvoline™ Global Operations. 

The connection with the College began last year, when the companies supported mechanic students in refurbishing a Formula Renault racing car, with the intention of getting it back to full working order.  That work has continued this year, again with the companies’ sponsorship as part of Valvoline Global’s Mechanics Month, an annual global event celebrating those either with a career in the field or who aspire to have one.  Meanwhile, graphic design students were given the challenge of creating advertising for Valvoline Global that could be featured on the racing car’s body panels. 

Another element of the collaboration was to send a group of eighteen students to take part in an International Women’s Day event at Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One AMR Technology Campus.  Alongside 200 other young women, the students heard from inspirational speakers including Jessica Hawkins, Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One Team’s driver ambassador. 

Both Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One and Valvoline Global aim to encourage more women to enter the automotive profession, and ran a half-day event for ninety girls from local schools at the College’s South Central Institute of Technology at Bletchley, where they heard from two current Milton Keynes College students, Lucy and Georgie, as well as Rebecca Moroney from Aston Martin and Kara Dunmore and Evangelia Boumpouli, both mechanics at Steven Eagell Group’s Cambridge branch. 

The graphics students who’ve been involved in the work on the Formula Renault car went to the Aston Martin Aramco Formula® One Team Technology Campus at Silverstone to present their designs to judges from the racing and lubricant companies, with the winning team looking forward to seeing their design on the Milton Keynes College car.  

At the final event, the motor vehicle mechanic students presented their team’s work to a panel of judges, including Jamal Muashsher, President and Chief Executive Officer of Valvoline Global, who selected the best three. The winning team will have the fantastic prize of a four-day work experience placement at the AMR Technology Campus, while the second and third placed teams received professional mechanics’ tool kits. 

One of the winning student mechanics, Sam Mitchell, said, “The challenge was really enjoyable and tougher than I thought it might be.  It’s taught me an improved understanding of electrical theory and application, as well as helping with my teamwork and communication skills, not just between me and Joe but with the other teams, as well a wider understanding of race car mechanics.   It was great to have the chance to talk to the Valvoline CEO and other officials and amazing to see the final car, the livery and seeing what we had done.” 

Sam’s teammate, Joe Rose, said, “We’d never worked on motorsport vehicles before so this gave us an incredible insight into how it works. It’s given me some really valuable skills and knowledge which could help start my career in the sport, which really is my ambition.” 

All the student winners said they had an amazing time at the celebratory event.  Chiamaka Ahaneku, one of the graphics students involved said, “The experience provided by Aston Martin during the presentation of the Valvoline livery was truly inspirational to my teammates and me.  All the members of my design team felt included and heard.  The opportunity we were given will stay with us forever, and we thoroughly enjoyed our day.” 

Caroline Indge, Head of Partnerships and Innovation at Milton Keynes College Group, says, “We’re so grateful to Aston Martin F1 and Valvoline for taking such an interest in the students, and for giving them the most amazing window into a world which not only excites them but which is there for them to join if they work hard.  We’re always looking out for local businesses with which to create these kinds of partnerships.  They’re great for the students, and they also give companies an insight into the calibre of skilled young people we’re training.” 

Mark Gray, Head of Build & Car Assembly at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team, stated: “We are proud to continue supporting Valvoline’s Mechanics Month initiative. Mechanics play a crucial role in our sport – without them, racing wouldn’t be possible. It was a pleasure to welcome students from Milton Keynes College, give them a behind-the-scenes look at our work, and hopefully inspire the next generation of mechanics, whether in Formula 1 or the broader mobility industry.” 

Speaking at the event, Jamal Muashsher, CEO and President of Valvoline Global said, “By providing students with mentorship and resources, we help bridge the global skills gap and support the next generation in building successful careers.  These young mechanics will drive the future of the industry, tackle evolving challenges, and may even become elite engineers behind Aston Martin Aramco Formula One’s success.” 

To find out more about studying Motor Vehicle at MK College, visit Motor Vehicle Advanced – MK College

To find out more about studying Graphic Design at MK College, visit Graphic Design Advanced – MK College