Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s supercar. The pinnacle of automotive design and the acme of engineering prowess. A dream for many is just to get behind the wheel of one of these beautiful beasts and harness all of their horsepower in an escapist, galloping, racetrack fantasy.
The supercar is capable of driving men and women mad with desire and insatiable hunger. Just ask Jeremy Clarkson. From a distance, of course.
To others, however, it is far more rewarding to be behind the design and creation of innovative vehicles – whether that’s straight out of further education or an apprenticeship, or as a mid-life career move from another engineering specialism.
Jaguar takes engineering to new heights by unveiling its new XF on a high wire in London.
As Ford launches its first GT supercar for a decade and McLaren looks at the real prospect of self-driving sportsters, manufacturers are always looking for the next big thing.
With this in mind that’s why, just last week, the 2015 Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship was opened, aimed at young women who are planning a career in technology and engineering.
Launched in 2013, the funding programme is now open to those embarking on or undertaking an engineering, maths or physics degree course or apprenticeship in the UK this year. The aim is to boost female participation in these areas, with the winners receiving £1000 a year for studies of up to three years, as well as professional mentoring.
There are two separate awards: one for an undergraduate and the other for an apprentice.
But how do those not lucky enough to be eligible of the scheme – men, for example, or those who career-wise have already been round the block and now want to go round the track – maximise their chances of a brand new role with the supercar creators?
Obviously, firstly you’ll need to put on your best petrol head: no matter your depth of knowledge or years of experience in engineering, or lack of both, a bona fide passion for engines, specs and all things automobile is essential.
To turbo boost your chances, however, get hands-on, head-under-the-bonnet involved with the engineering of cars. Engage with drivers and mechanics at rallies and racetracks, and get some experience of life in the pit. You don’t even have to be trusted with anything – you really don’t want to back a Lamborghini Huracan into the garage wall. Just get used to how cars operate at their best and learn inside out the rudiments of mechanics.
Better still, combine hands-on experience with an aptitude and success in maths and applied sciences. These form the bedrock of successful motorsport engineering.
You’re never too long in the tooth for learning new things and achieving a degree in Motorsport Engineering is a big gold star in your supercar CV. The University of the West of Scotland offers a BEng (Hons) in Motorsport Design Engineering. Herriot-Watt offers a BEng (Hons) in Automotive Engineering, but it’s in Dubai. Still, there could be worse places to work on supercars than the beach. There are courses across the UK, too, so just get searching for which one best suits you.
At Uni, don’t spend all of your time in the students’ union drooling over You Tube videos from the New York Motor show: challenge yourself to get a placement with an automotive manufacturer or designer. It doesn’t have to be McLaren or a Red Bull, but all and any experience at this stage will be invaluable for your new career.
Once you have your degree in hand, hit the road, Jack (and Jill!). The automotive industry employs about 41,000 people in the UK. So, whether you want to be behind the design of cars, the manufacturing of them, or even behind the software in the computer systems that make them tick, there is a role for you out there.
Most of the big jobs are scattered around different areas down south, particularly Motorsport Valley between Birmingham and Oxfordshire.
There is a lot of competition out there, of all ages, and, if you want a podium place, you need to prove you’re worth it and not give up. So, at all times remember the wisdom of Murray Walker: “With half the race gone, there is half the race still to go.”
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