A team from supercar manufacturer McLaren will be visiting University College Isle of Man (UCM) to give young people aged 14+ the opportunity to learn more about engineering careers in the automotive industry.
Robert Yates, Ella Podmore MBE and Beth Elliot will be visiting UCM on Monday 5th February to deliver an inspiring presentation about the automotive industry and their careers in engineering. The team will be accompanied by a McLaren Artura which will be available to walkaround, as well as the opportunity to meet with local industry experts. Anyone aged 14+ who is currently in education has the opportunity to attend the event.
The event has been planned to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week.
The Artura is McLaren’s first-ever series-production High-Performance Hybrid supercar. Underpinned by the McLaren philosophy of super-lightweight engineering, the Artura is the distillation of every attribute inherent in a McLaren – distinctive design, unrivalled performance, dynamic excellence and engineering innovation – with electrification now bringing the additional benefits of even faster throttle response, lower emissions and being able to run in pure EV mode for emissions-free journeys of up to 31km.
Robert is a Body Engineering Project Manager at McLaren Automotive who originally hails from the Isle of Man. Having completed his secondary education at St Ninian’s High School, Robert completed a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Automotive Engineering at Huddersfield University before working for car brand Vauxhall. Having worked for McLaren since 2012, Robert is passionate about cars and is proud to work for a company which makes some of the most exciting and technologically advanced supercars in the world.
Ella, who is a Senior Materials engineer at McLaren Automotive, has been at the company for nearly 6 years, and has a Masters of Materials Engineering at University of Manchester, has won IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year 2020, been named Surrey’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2022 and more recently received an MBE in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours List for contributions to engineering, innovation and diversity. On top of her usual duties Ella is an advocate for women in engineering and frequently talks to students about the career opportunities in STEM. Her aim is to inspire the next generation to make an impact whilst showcasing that science and engineering is for everyone.
Beth is a Graduate Engineer at McLaren Automotive in the powertrain department. She studied General Engineering (Mechanical) at the University of Sheffield for 5 years, finishing with a Masters. This included a year in industry at Parker Hannifin Ltd as a design engineer, helping to design new products, make prototypes, and test parts in the laboratory. She joined the Graduate Scheme at McLaren Automotive straight from University, and has been with the company for more than a year.
Robert said: “I’m delighted to be coming back to the Island with some members of the team from McLaren; I’m extremely passionate about promoting STEM subjects and highlighting the exciting careers that can come from these subjects. This event will be a great opportunity for anyone who is considering a career in the industry to find out more. Myself, Ella and Beth are all at different stages in our careers, so it’s a great opportunity to hear varying experiences and perspectives, and to ask any questions.
‘It’s a really relaxed and inspiring event which includes a short but inciteful presentation and an in-depth tour of the supercar.’
Sam Warren, Head of Faculty for Environment and Sustainability added: ‘We’re so pleased to be welcoming the team from McLaren to UCM to inspire the next generation of engineers. As well as a session for our students, we wanted to open a second session for the wider public to make this fantastic opportunity accessible to as many people as possible.
‘We’re incredibly grateful to Love Tech, the Department of Enterprise (DFE) and the Awareness of Careers in Engineering team (ACE) who have made this visit possible. It’s a great way to celebrate the start of National Apprenticeship Week. Spaces are limited, so if you’re interested in this event, please sign up as soon as possible.’
Julie Edge MHK, Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, said: ‘Apprenticeships provide access to opportunities for individuals and businesses, and are a great way to begin a journey of lifelong learning, which is a key objective of the Island Plan.
‘I encourage any young people with an interest in engineering to come along and learn more about a career in the automotive industry and the help available at UCM.’
With support from Love Tech, Isle of Man Steam Packet, DFE and the ACE team, during the week Robert, Ella and Beth will be visiting St Ninian’s, Ballakermeen and QEII to speak to pupils about careers in engineering. Pupils at other schools or who haven’t had chance to get involved but are considering engineering are encouraged to sign up for the event.
There is a limit of 40 free tickets for this event, on a first-come-first basis.
Alexandria Halsall from Love Tech added: ‘We are delighted to support the McLaren team as they venture to the Isle of Man, bringing invaluable experiences and expertise to our local schools. Love Tech is dedicated to inspiring young people to explore STEM opportunities, and this collaboration with McLaren promises to showcase the endless possibilities in the automotive and engineering industries!’
For more information and to register for the event visit: www.ucm.ac.im/mclaren