The ambitions of any Formula 1 engineering project are always geared towards moving the team involved further up the grid.
The Komatsu-Williams Engineering Academy is no different and has similar long-term aspirations – but a whole lot more besides.
The programme was launched on Thursday, with the aim of attracting new and previously untapped talent.
A launch event was staged on the rooftop of the team’s motorhome at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, which included a visit from Alex Albon – fresh from qualifying ninth in Monza.
Williams team principal James Vowles was also present and addressed the guests to set out in detail what the Academy means to both the team and him personally.
“Engineering is a huge domain across many disciplines. I really look forward to seeing this academy grow and take off, I have seen the plans and I am excited by what it will produce, I think it will work hand and hand with what we are doing within Williams, it is a natural fit,” he said.
“I myself, about 30 years ago, entered a similar mechanism, I was a graduate entering Formula 1 and F1 30 years ago didn’t have any idea what to do with graduates whatsoever.
“It really struck me that I wanted to make sure we provide opportunity for future generations, invest in future generations because they are the ones who will become our leaders in time to come.
“It is an incredibly important part of what Williams is today and what Williams will be in the next five to 10 years, this investment shows immediately that the Williams journey is not one about short-cutting, it is the one about putting foundations in place with the graduates of the future.”
With work experience, apprenticeships, placements and graduate schemes on offer, Komatsu and Williams’ joint venture is setting them out as leaders of such projects.
“The Engineering Academy has been running for a number of years and the principle behind it really is finding the next generation of high-potential talent from a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) perspective,” explains Williams Chief HR Officer, Ann Perrins.
“From a global perspective, we look to engage quite a wide range of students, working with ‘F1 in Schools’ and we will take 10 students onto the programme each year. We look to invest in this year-on-year and the principles are that we find great talent, help them to develop and give them a really fantastic experience.”
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