Williams early careers programmes – meet the students 

Sit down with Williams team principal James Vowles for any length of time and at some point it is likely the conversation will turn to his passion for bringing through the most promising young minds and giving them a home – both at Grove and in Formula 1. 

Through its early careers programmes, Williams is continuing to do just that. 

With performance improving on track and a team-record title partnership deal with Atlassian showing the team can deliver big results commercially, Williams is keen to build on the current progress by securing the precocious talent to drive it forward in the future. 

To do that, the organisation has developed several early careers pathways, including the Komatsu-Williams Engineering Academy, as well as apprenticeships, graduate schemes and a schools outreach programme that will bring 10,000 children to Grove this year free of charge to introduce them to jobs in science, technology, engineering and maths. 

Autosport caught up with three members of different programmes to find out how they came to be enrolled on their respective schemes and what their roles are within the team. 

Aaliyah Ascroft – Graduate Design Engineer, Mechanical 

Aaliyah works as a Mechanical Design Engineer at Williams. She previously joined the Front of Vehicle team as an industrial placement student, designing and supporting the FW45 car for the 2023 F1 season, before finishing her studies and returning 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 started with my A-levels – I studied geography, mathematics, physics, and then I did a further maths AS-level as well.  

I went to the University of Glasgow to study mechanical engineering and graduated with my bachelor’s degree and ended up here. I’m probably a bit of 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 I really liked was the ingenuity side of it. That drew me to it initially, but I did not think I was going to get the job at all, I thought a placement would be a really good, 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, I think it helps develop the team. The one amazing thing about Williams is 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 Williams 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. 

Williams Early Careers programme

Photo by: Jo Kingman, SNS Digital UK

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 is 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 

Williams Early Careers programme

Photo by: Jo Kingman, SNS Digital UK

Fleur, 23, is 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 Williams 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! 

Williams Early Careers programme

Photo by: Jo Kingman, SNS Digital UK

What does it mean to have James Vowles, someone so obviously passionate about these programmes, 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 appreciate 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 organise 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 programmes 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 he 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 

Williams Early Careers programme

Photo by: Jo Kingman, SNS Digital UK

Reece is an Electronics Apprentice at Williams, where he specialises 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 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 realised 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.

Williams Early Careers programme

Photo by: Jo Kingman, SNS Digital UK

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 programmes 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. 

Williams Early Careers programme

Photo by: Jo Kingman, SNS Digital UK

Have the stories of Aaliyah, Fleur and Reece inspired you to apply for an early careers role at Williams? 

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