Williams Launches New Engineering Academy in Partnership with Randstad to Nurture Next Generation Engineers

To select the best candidates, Williams will be partnering with F1 in Schools, a not-for-profit educational organisation that delivers a world-class STEM competition that engages with millions of students across the globe. The Academy will be open to those aged between 16 and 18 at the time of entry and have successfully made it through to that year’s F1 in Schools World Finals.A selection of nominated F1 in Schools World Finalists will apply to join the Academy in autumn each year and following a series of assessments up to 10 candidates will be successful, with the first students joining in November 2015. Over the course of the next seven years each cohort of students will be gradually whittled down in number as they complete a series of vocational placements and mentoring experiences at Williams and undertake e-learning projects. Given the global nature of the Academy, with students applying from all over the world, remote e-learning with a motorsport engineering theme will be a central tenet of the programme. Randstad will be using its global presence and extensive experience of global education systems and vocational skills training to help Williams in the promotion and the ongoing assessment of the students.Speaking about the Randstad Williams Engineering Academy Pat Symonds, Chief Technical Officer at Williams, said; “Formula One is a human capital business and companies like Williams rely on attracting the very best talent to stay ahead of the game. Too often young engineering students lack information and guidance on how to secure a job in the sport and this new Academy will help break down these barriers. We will be giving talented students with a passion for STEM subjects the chance to get up close and personal with the team and be mentored by senior Formula One engineers. Young Driver Academies have existed in Formula One for a while, but this is the first time an engineering alternative on this scale has been established. We look forward to welcoming our first Academy entrants next year. “

Claire Williams, Deputy Team Principal of Williams, added; “Williams has been passionate about promoting the study of STEM subjects for many years and we have been looking for a new programme that would encourage a new pipeline of talented students from across the world to join our organisation. Randstad are a long term partner of Williams and a major recruiter in the Automotive, IT and Engineering segments. Their knowledge of the global educational space is second to none. As a patron of F1 in Schools I am very familiar with how bright the entrants are and we are delighted to be working with them to select the best candidates.

“Formula One is fiercely competitive and therefore our students will be competing with each other to remain in the Academy until the very end. We are breaking new ground with this initiative and we are confident that we can give our students important vocational skills that will perfectly complement their traditional education.”

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About the Randstad Williams Engineering Academy
•    The Randstad Williams Engineering Academy will officially launch in November 2015 as an extra-curricular e-learning and vocational skills programme.
•    To be eligible, students must have made it through to that years F1 in Schools World Finals and be aged between16 and 18 when enrolling. The Academy is open to candidates from all over the globe.
•    Each school with a team at the F1 in Schools World Finals will nominate a stand out student for consideration. Following a series of assessments, up to 10 successful students will be chosen to join the Academy.
•    This is a seven year staged programme. The curriculum includes motorsport engineering themed learning via an e-learning portal. It will also include a variety of work placements at Williams and mentoring opportunities with senior Williams engineers.
•    This is a competitive programme. Up to 10 students will join each year starting in 2015, and these numbers will be gradually whittled down over the course of the programme as students will be assessed at the end of each year, with the best students graduating to the next stage of the programme.

About Williams
Williams is a leading Formula One team and advanced engineering company. Formed in 1977 by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head, the Williams F1 Team has secured 16 FIA Formula One World Championship titles since its foundation. Nine of these titles have been won in the Constructors’ Championship, with the remaining seven titles being Drivers’ Championships won with Alan Jones, Keke Rosberg,Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve.

The company’s core competencies are the design and manufacture of Formula One race cars, and the deployment of this expertise in running the team’s entries into the Grands Prix each season.

Williams Advanced Engineering is the division of Williams that harnesses Formula One derived technology, development pace and knowledge to deliver highly innovative products and services to the motorsport, automotive, transport, aerospace and energy sectors. Working in close collaboration, Williams Advanced Engineering helps its customers meet the sustainability challenges of the 21st century and improve their performance, market position and brand image.