Discover the Journey of Three Young Talents Shaping the Future at Williams

Michael Tower

Williams Early Career Program

Unveiling the Early Careers Pathways at Williams

Step into the world of Formula 1 with James Vowles, the team principal of Williams, who is passionately dedicated to nurturing promising young minds and providing them with a platform to thrive. Through its early careers programs, continues to fulfill this mission. With impressive on-track performance and a record-breaking title partnership deal with Atlassian, the team aims to build upon its current success by securing future talent. To achieve this goal, the organization has developed several early career pathways, including the Komatsu- Engineering Academy, apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and a schools outreach program that will bring 10,000 children to Grove this year for free, introducing them to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Let’s meet three members of these programs and learn about their roles within the team.

Aaliyah Ascroft – Graduate Design Engineer, Mechanical

Meet Aaliyah Ascroft, a Mechanical Design Engineer at Williams. After joining the Front of Vehicle team as an industrial placement student, designing and supporting the FW45 car for the 2023 F1 season, she returned last year as a graduate. She studied BEng Mechanical Engineering at the University of Glasgow and was heavily involved in the UGRacing team there, taking a position as Head of Powertrain Internal Combustion. Her work on this team resulted in it winning the national Formula Student competition.

What was your educational pathway before you joined Williams? I’m a part of the graduate programme, but I first started on a placement two years ago which has now turned into a role working in the suspension, steering, and brakes group. My journey began with my A-levels – I studied geography, mathematics, physics, and further maths as well. I then went to the University of Glasgow to study mechanical engineering and graduated with my bachelor’s degree, ending up here. I probably am an abnormality in the sense that I applied on a whim because I didn’t think I was going to get it. I was just starting to get into F1, but what really drew me to it initially was the ingenuity side of it. That aspect attracted me, but I did not think I was going to get the job at all; I thought a placement would be a great, hands-on way of gaining work experience while on what could be a very theoretical university course.

Does it help Williams achieve success to have such a push for early learning careers and get people into roles from a young age? I think so. The one amazing thing about is that it’s filled with loads of people who are ex-early careers, everyone knows how to support you because they’ve all been in there themselves. A lot of my team are ex-placement students, which is great because everyone is established in the wider team and familiar with the way of working and training. For example, my approach might be quite different to someone who came from an aerospace background. That’s because I’ve learned how to do everything in the F1 environment. So, you get really good at being trained to work in the Formula 1 way, if you like.

What has your highlight been since working here – do you have ‘pinch yourself’ moments? I think it is seeing on the car some of the parts I’ve helped to get there. That was probably the first big feeling of: ‘Oh, right. Yeah, I’m actually doing this!’ Also, attending my first big meetings with senior management and getting positive feedback, I always find it’s generally after the fact where I have the ‘I did that’ or ‘that actually sounds really impressive’ response. My first project that I handled when I was on placement, that was big. We got it all out, got it released, got it manufactured, saw it all made up, and I was able to say that I helped design all of that. Some stuff, it might end up on an Instagram post, and that is a strange feeling but it’s quite cool, and then James Vowles will send out an email talking about the racing and things like that. It’s really awesome just to be involved in that sort of thing and actually having that connection to the track side.

Fleur Vermeulen – Industrial Placement, Aerodynamics

Next up is Fleur Vermeulen, an aerodynamics engineer working as an industrial placement at Williams. She studied for her BSc Aerospace Engineering at the Delft University of Technology and is pursuing an MSc in Aerodynamics, which she will finish in 2026. In 2022, she joined the Delft Formula Student Team as an aerodynamics engineer, where, together with fellow students, they designed, built, and raced their own car. She is very passionate about her work and driven by the innovation in the motorsport industry.

What was it that attracted you to apply for an early careers programme with Williams? I’m doing this in between my university years so it really gives you a lot of experience before graduating with a degree. It’s actually great, you learn way more than just being in university and I think is big on early careers, it is quite family-oriented, and that really attracted me. You get to see everything, you get to see every single part, especially in this early careers programme. You see all the other industrial placements (IPs), so I know not only what I’m doing, but you see what’s happening on the factory floor, what happens in the design office, you see every single part and that’s important.

Has it really sunk in yet that you’re here and that you’re doing these sort of things? It took me a few months to really be like ‘wow, I’m actually here’, but now it’s been eight months, and it is still good. They really give you the responsibility to try to fix the car or try to improve the car. I thought it would be just walking around, shadowing what people do, but it was immediately from the start: ‘this is your part, go for it, see what you can do, see if you can improve some things that we don’t see’, so that was quite a shock!

What does it mean to have James Vowles, someone so obviously passionate about these programs, as the head of the team? We talk about it a lot. Before I applied, I heard him talk about it more than any other team principal, that Williams really appreciates having early career people and it really wants more. So, it just made me think that this would be a good fit for me. Especially now that I’m here, they make sure that there’s always somebody to talk to and they organize all kinds of meetings with other IPs so you can always see what other people are doing, that’s really nice. It’s great because you see him promote it because he knows that it’s the future. It’s a good starting point to get people interested in these programs and see how great it actually is, and it is very likely we will stay here and do more. So, that’s really nice to see. He also comes to talk to us, he gives us little speeches so it’s not just saying these things publicly, it’s actually showing how he wants to help is to improve.

Reece Gerring – Apprentice, Electronics

Lastly, we have Reece Gerring, an Electronics Apprentice at Williams, where he specializes in wiring, testing, and calibration of advanced electronic systems. With a strong interest in technology and a lifelong passion for motorsport, Reece is committed to developing the technical skills and precision required while studying alongside working. Previously, he attended Cirencester College, completing a diploma in Sports and Physical Activity Development, whilst working at Screwfix, where he gained an in-depth knowledge of tooling and engineering equipment.

When you applied, what were your main aspirations, what did you want to achieve? I think the aspirations and ambitions haven’t changed much from then to now. Formula 1 has always been a passion of mine, and the aim has been to prove I belong there, I want to work my way up and prove I belong among the best engineers in the world. Sports has always been a big passion of mine, so college for me was just all sport. I realized I really wanted to do something I’m passionate about, I’ve always had a passion for F1, so I thought I’d give it a go.

Did it make it easier to feel at home when so many people around you are from similar paths? I think so. There’s a big emphasis on early careers, no matter where you go in the business. For example, I’ve been trying to get an understanding of what each department is like, and each department you go in to, there’s a couple of apprentices or a couple of graduates wherever you go, they’re always getting about. It’s good to see, and it gives you confidence that there is the support there for myself and they are good at handing out advice as well. There is a really good network. I know I can go to any of the training officers or any of the apprentices for advice on college work or work here, too.

You said the word ambition earlier. Do you have a set ambition, or are you happy for your journey to maybe take a few different paths and a few different roads? I’m happy for it to lead me wherever it takes me, but I’ll be working hard to work my way up wherever that ends up. I’m not sure quite yet. I’ve always had a little bit of a soft spot for Williams, because my dad used to be on the test team in the early 2000s, but it has amplified a bit more now.

What would your advice be for the next cohorts coming into early careers programs at Williams? Honestly, I think just appreciate the opportunity you have. You are lucky to be where you are. Obviously, to get here, you need the skills and the ambition, but once you’re here, just make the most of it. Try and learn everything from the people around you, because there’s a lot of knowledge in all departments here. Have the stories of Aaliyah, Fleur, and Reece inspired you to apply for an early careers role at ? Positions for 2026 go live later this year, and students can register their interest on the team’s new careers website now: https://careers.williamsf1.com/early-careers

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