Students take part in event with F1 team to learn about careers in motorsports
Students from MK College’s Business, Digital, and Engineering courses were given the opportunity to attend the #GirlsWill “Into the World of F1” event, hosted by the Aramco Aston Martin F1 (AMF1) Team at the Silverstone Museum. The College received an invitation to attend the event on October 28th through Silverstone’s partnership with the South Central Institute of Technology. Altogether seven students were selected to participate based on their written submission, detailing how this experience would positively impact their career aspirations.
#GirlsWill events organised by the Silverstone Museum are ‘aimed at driving greater diversity in motorsport, encouraging girls and young women to study STEM subjects and consider careers in the sector.’ By inspiring and educating young women about potential career paths, these events empower students to enter traditionally male-dominated fields, such as motorsport.
At the event on October 28th, students participated in two ‘Motorsport Beyond the Track’ workshops and a Q&A session with a panel of female AMF1 Brand Ambassadors, including Jessica Hawkins, the Team Ambassador and Head of the F1 Academy. The panelists shared their stories of how they entered the sport and what their roles entailed, offering advice to students on how to pursue their career aspirations in motorsport and related fields. The event highlighted the diverse roles within the industry, with a particular emphasis on encouraging and supporting young women and girls to follow their passions.
In the workshops, students were introduced to the wide range of skills in demand in the world of motorsport. Ailsa Marrs, the AMF1 Creative Director, discussed various aspects of marketing and branding with the students, including the cultivation of the Aston Martin Racing (AMR) brand identity and the use of social media and other channels to support it. The workshop also included information on the management of collaborations and partnerships.
In the second workshop, Louise Turner, the AMF1 Composite Director, walked the students through the process of building the best race car. She highlighted engineering, safety, and innovation within the team as key factors in designing and building a successful car. Students had the opportunity to examine a seat from an F1 car as part of a demonstration on the importance of balancing safety with performance. They learned that the seat, designed for safety, was also extremely lightweight to maximise performance.
The workshops were followed by a Q&A panel featuring prominent women within the company. The students found the panelists engaging and thought-provoking, as they highlighted a variety of roles available within the company, ranging from car manufacturing to areas such as IT and sustainability.
The students were accompanied by Frances Godfrey, Course Team Leader for Business at MK College, who complimented the event’s potential to empower:
“Students from both the Engineering and Business schools left the event with a better appreciation of not only for the motorsport industry but also for the self-belief that if you are passionate, nothing should stop you from reaching your goals.”
“I hope this becomes a regular event, as it would be great to open it up to even more young women coming through the College to help them as they decide on their future career paths.”
Student feedback from the event was very positive – many found the workshops interesting and informative. Katie, an MK College student who participated the event said:
“As a student who would like to work in the racing industry, it opened my eyes to the role I would like to pursue. It was very inspirational, as we got to speak to women in the industry and learn what their roles entail.”
“It was amazing to speak to the women in key roles within the racing industry, as it helps to open doors to the opportunities for girls and women looking for jobs in this industry.”
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