I recently visited Scarborough University Technical College (UTC) to meet four students heading to Saudi Arabia for the World Finals of a Formula 1 school competition.  

Unity Racing is a team made up of four teenage boys from the Scarborough area. The boys have been part of a multidisciplinary STEM competition – F1 in Schools. The competition for secondary school children mimics everything that goes into being on an F1 team. 

The team will be judged on design and engineering, enterprise, project management, brand identity, and a ten-minute verbal presentation. The impact that this scheme has had on these students cannot be underestimated. It is not often that young people are given the opportunity to project manage, design and market the production of an F1 car and team. They have been able to enhance their engineering, design and marketing skills, opening so many doors for them in the future. It’s not just their technical skills though, the soft skills that they have gained through this are so important. I certainly couldn’t have spoken so confidently at the age of 16.  

We have had a longstanding relationship with the team, supporting them through Made Smarter, the previous York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, continuing that support as the Combined Authority. The team initially approached us at Scarborough Science and Engineering Week 2023, and we helped them with sponsorship for the Regional and National Finals. When they came second in Nationals, securing a place at the World Finals, it was a no brainer to continue supporting them. 

It’s so important that we foster these talents, connecting our young people to opportunities through skills development, careers support and future employment. It is my vision to create healthy and thriving communities across York and North Yorkshire, and that means encouraging opportunities like this. 

I am so incredibly proud that they will be representing York and North Yorkshire on the world stage. That really is putting Yorkshire on the map. The whole of North Yorkshire is behind you boys, good luck! 

Published on Sunday 24 November