A golden ticket – how STEM Racing continues to prepare students for a career in engineering

“I’ve at all times been obsessed with engineering, at all times liked the scent of engineering” – that, in a nutshell, is on the coronary heart of why Andrew Denford launched a not-for-profit STEM competitors for college students that has now flourished right into a worldwide programme and retains the help of Components 1.

2024 was an enormous yr for the mission, because it celebrated 25 years whereas additionally rebranding from F1 in Colleges to STEM Racing, supported by Components 1 and on the identical time reaching 29,000 faculties throughout 64 international locations, whereas persevering with to depend on the help of all 10 groups on the grid.

College students are tasked with creating their very own model of an F1 crew, working collectively, and assigning roles and obligations for particular areas – corresponding to design, manufacturing and branding.

As soon as developed, the groups compete in STEM Racing occasions in addition to presenting their effort to a crew of judges, which previously has included members of F1 groups.

“I am actually happy with how we convey Components 1 into the classroom,” Denford advised Autosport.

“Our free assets make it straightforward for academics to make use of and guarantee each scholar has the chance to become involved. It’s all about making STEM thrilling, accessible, and exhibiting the way it connects to the real-world innovation and teamwork in F1.”

The occasions begins out at a regional degree, earlier than progressing to nationwide occasions and ultimately, the perfect of the perfect compete towards different international locations on the World Finals

In 2024, the World Finals had been held in Saudi Arabia, supported by Aramco and, with a particular look by Fernando Alonso, the occasion impressed college students and showcased the programme’s world attain and impression.

“In interviews, having STEM Racing in your CV is sort of a golden ticket by way of to the following stage of the method,” mentioned Denford.

“I set it up as a result of I’m an engineer. I did an apprenticeship after messing up my A-Ranges, went to Huddersfield Polytechnic and realised no person in my yr needed to be an engineer – there was an enormous scarcity.

“It was based on account of a niche within the schooling round engineering and creating that narrative. Clearly, it has been round for 25 years now, and again when it was based, STEM wasn’t actually on the radar, it was an enormous hole within the UK schooling system.

“I like something about engineering and machine outlets and so we arrange, what was then the Jaguar F1 Group in Colleges as a not-for-profit – but it surely was hell on earth to start with, I can’t even start to inform the household how powerful it was within the first six or seven years, it was sleepless evening stuff.”

It turned out the knight in shining armour that Denford required was then-F1 business rights holder and all-round shrewd operator, Bernie Ecclestone.

“As soon as we acquired Bernie in, he acquired the groups concerned,” defined Denford. “I met all of the crew principals after which advised we acquired trophies, goodie baggage and manufacturing facility and storage excursions for winners – they usually all got here on board.”

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

Photograph by: Liberty Media

Now generally known as STEM Racing, supported by F1, the programme is setting itself as much as present it is going to proceed to develop college students sooner or later.

“The title change is one thing that we have embraced as a enterprise, as a result of we’re a non-profit organisation separate to Components 1,” added Denford.

“Though we have been round for 25 years, and we’re a reputation that every one the groups help, they really see the affiliation with Components 1 as, I suppose, a monetary one.

“So I feel this new period for us is one that may distinguish us fully as a separate non-profit organisation, and whereas we nonetheless will harness the total help from Components 1 and all of the F1 groups, that distinction is one which I feel is necessary to attract, as a result of we’re a non-profit, and what we do is benefiting college students.”

President of Motorsport enterprise James Allen, who chaired the judging panel for the Pioneering and Innovation Award and is a patron of STEM Racing in F1, has been nearer than most to the programme through the years.

“For over 20 years F1 in Colleges has been an incredible mission,” he mentioned. “Previous to the takeover of F1 by Liberty Media, it was successfully F1’s CSR technique, serving to children to have interaction with F1 and inspiring ladies to think about STEM topics and engineering careers.

“It has touched the lives of tens of millions of kids worldwide, a few of whom have gone on to work within the sport. Because it now rebrands to STEM Racing, the collection goes from power to power.”