Silverstone UTC: A Gateway to Formula One Careers
Amid the excitement of Formula One racing, the Silverstone University Technical College (UTC), situated overlooking the iconic Silverstone circuit, stands as a significant success story. It continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of Formula One beyond the roar of the engines.
Graduates Kian Brown and Savannah Morgan, who completed their studies last year at Silverstone UTC, have secured positions within Formula One teams. Brown is currently a composite machining apprentice at Mercedes, while Morgan works as an advanced digital machining apprentice at Cadillac.
These individuals are part of a growing group of alumni who have progressed into various roles within the motorsport and engineering sectors. In 2025, up to 30 students from the college transitioned directly into motorsport careers, including placements with F1 teams, race engineering employers, and specialist motorsport degree programs.
Specialist Technical Education in the Heart of Motorsport Valley
The college offers specialist technical engineering education to students aged 14 to 18 and is located in the centre of Britain’s Motorsport Valley. This region hosts eight Formula One teams and is adjacent to the renowned Silverstone circuit, providing students with unparalleled experiences and opportunities.
“I love maths and physics but I also like doing practical work,”says Savannah Morgan.
“Lewis Hamilton is a big inspiration. As a person of colour myself, seeing him stand out in such a field where there isn’t much diversity is a big inspiration.
“The opportunity for work placements twice a week allowed us to gain real-world experience and explore which areas of engineering we enjoy most. We’ve also had amazing networking events at Silverstone, where we met representatives from companies like McLaren and Williams which prepare us for careers in engineering by providing direct engagement with the motorsport industry.”
Kian Brown, who had long aspired to work in Formula One, found the college’s approach ideal for his ambitions.
“I went to the school because I knew that it did everything,”he explains.
“You could do every part of it, there’s the theory side, there’s the practical side, hands-on, all that. Our teachers all come from the industry themselves, so they’re able to guide us in the right direction compared to some teachers who just teach off a textbook and just expect you to be able to apply it to the real working world, which didn’t really work for me.”
Origins and Industry Support
Silverstone UTC is located on a campus adjacent to the circuit, positioned opposite the old start-finish straight between Woodcote and Copse corners. Founded in 2013, the college was established to realise the vision of Neil Patterson, then a design engineer at McLaren. The British Racing Drivers’ Club and Silverstone circuit donated the land, recognising the college’s alignment with the expanding needs of the British motorsport industry.
In 2024, the Department for Business and Trade reported that Formula One contributed £12 billion to the UK economy from a total £16 billion annual motorsport turnover. The Motorsport Industry Association’s 2024 survey highlighted that the sector employs 50,000 people but identified recruitment and training as significant barriers to growth.
The college addresses these challenges by providing a state-funded education led by Principal Angela Murphy, who assumed her role in 2024. Despite being relatively unknown, demand for places exceeds the current capacity of 480 students. Some families have relocated across the country to access the UTC’s facilities. For example, a former alumnus who began a degree apprenticeship at Cosworth with the University of Warwick commuted daily from Kent.
“We are just so so lucky to be here,”Murphy states.
“It’s a truly enviable location I would say and one of those pinch-me places. The opportunities that we give to our students are jaw-dropping at times and that’s so special, the location is a huge part of that.
“We’ve got the proximity to the industry and over time the UTC has built up a really strong reputation with employers in engineering. Not just in Formula One, not even just in motorsport but in high-performance engineering and those relationships that we developed are bearing fruit.”
Facilities and Student Commitment
The college is equipped with full-size, industry-standard tools, including lathe and milling machines, computer numerical control (CNC) equipment, welding bays, and a computer-aided design (CAD) suite that utilizes industry-standard software. Students demonstrate strong dedication, as transitioning to a new school at age 14 is uncommon and underscores the unique opportunities available at Silverstone UTC.
“It doesn’t feel like a school, it doesn’t look like a school,”Murphy remarks.
“We’ve got incredible workshops sat there with glass walls that you can see through. It’s a beautiful building, a really stunning place and the sound of the track alongside it is just an added bonus really.”
Industry Partnerships and Future Ambitions
Silverstone UTC currently maintains partnerships with Aston Martin, Red Bull, and Haas, with plans to expand these collaborations.
“We offer something different to schools because we offer a technical education that is grounded in the opportunity to apply learning in a really meaningful way,”Murphy explains.
“It’s far less abstract if you can learn from people who’ve worked in the industry or you can apply your learning to a project that has been set by an employer-partner.”
The growing popularity of Formula One, exemplified by the record-breaking attendance of 570,000 expected at the British Grand Prix this weekend, influences many aspects of the sport, including inspiring the next generation who will sustain its growth.
“I had to move from my town in Stafford all the way to Northampton, away from everyone there,”Brown reflects.
“It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made.”
