McLaren announces composites apprenticeship

An apprenticeship with McLaren Racing and McLaren Automotive will be delivered by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Training Centre.

During National Apprenticeship Week, McLaren has announced its apprenticeship in partnership with the AMRC Training Centre.

The advanced level composites technician apprenticeship spans over 36 months and will engage students in the production of composite components, some of which are used in automotive, motorsport, aerospace, rail and renewable industries.

The apprenticeship started in September 2023 and the cohort is split between three different employers.

The metallic machining apprenticeship includes an all-female group based at McLaren’s headquarters in Woking, UK.

McLaren Automotive and its students are based at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre in Sheffield, UK.

And the final group are at aircraft platform manufacturer, Teledyne CML composites, based in Bromborough in the Wirral, UK.

It is hoped the move boosts job prospects and fills the skills gap in the composite field.

Nikki Jones, Director of the AMRC Training Centre, says, ‘Working alongside McLaren and Composites UK, a need for such an apprenticeship was identified to help fill the national skills gap of people in composites due to an ageing workforce.’