National College of Motorsport
Discussion
I have made similar threads before but this one is where I am actually putting 110% to get somewhere.
Has people here attending the National College of Motorsport and be able to tell me what to expect? I have an unconditional offer onto the course and they want me to get straight onto an apprenticeship and I will go in on block release.
Has people struggled to find a placement under an apprenticeship or roughly easy? I am trying to find a placement currently and start asap. Live 200 odd miles from the college currently but will be relocating to near of where I will be working under the apprenticeship. Have researched a lot with help with housing etc... And with 2 incomes will find it easily doable
Probably live in house share to make it even easier.
Currently contacted roughly 50 teams at the moment. Basically going through championship sites and looking at the teams list and contacting ones roughly around Milton Keynes/Cheshire/Northamptonshire. Does anyone have any other advice to find teams, google doesn't seem to like bring them up without the full company name in the search.
Thanks
Has people here attending the National College of Motorsport and be able to tell me what to expect? I have an unconditional offer onto the course and they want me to get straight onto an apprenticeship and I will go in on block release.
Has people struggled to find a placement under an apprenticeship or roughly easy? I am trying to find a placement currently and start asap. Live 200 odd miles from the college currently but will be relocating to near of where I will be working under the apprenticeship. Have researched a lot with help with housing etc... And with 2 incomes will find it easily doable
Probably live in house share to make it even easier. Currently contacted roughly 50 teams at the moment. Basically going through championship sites and looking at the teams list and contacting ones roughly around Milton Keynes/Cheshire/Northamptonshire. Does anyone have any other advice to find teams, google doesn't seem to like bring them up without the full company name in the search.
Thanks
I was there last year.
Looking back the only good thing about it is it's a qualification in writing.
I found the college had very little course structure and very disorganised. For instance one day your learning how to change a radiator the next your outside washing on of the other teams trucks the next your doing nothing at all.
Some of the teachers prefer chatting then working and are very slack on work and setting work.
The thoery side is good but basic, but I had been doing road mechanics for 4 years. So I may be biased.
They promise lots of things like support after you leave, help finding teams, interesting tasks on the cars, none of which happened.
I learnt very little about racing or the cars and found it embarrassing talking about it with other race mechanics as its laughable simple and basic.
The only other good thing is the opportunity. Teams phone the college for "boys" to help out. That how I started at the team I'm at now.
They even signed me up to the level 3 course last year whilst I was testing at silverstone. I made a point of them contacting me about it and if I would get the details.
That was 8 months ago and I've heard nothing.
In short. If your young enough (as I was) to do it for free from the government go for it. But don't expect much apart from the name. If your paying, I wouldn't go knowing what I know now.
I was very excited to go to NC4M, but looking back as I'm now working in the trade it was crap.
Looking back the only good thing about it is it's a qualification in writing.
I found the college had very little course structure and very disorganised. For instance one day your learning how to change a radiator the next your outside washing on of the other teams trucks the next your doing nothing at all.
Some of the teachers prefer chatting then working and are very slack on work and setting work.
The thoery side is good but basic, but I had been doing road mechanics for 4 years. So I may be biased.
They promise lots of things like support after you leave, help finding teams, interesting tasks on the cars, none of which happened.
I learnt very little about racing or the cars and found it embarrassing talking about it with other race mechanics as its laughable simple and basic.
The only other good thing is the opportunity. Teams phone the college for "boys" to help out. That how I started at the team I'm at now.
They even signed me up to the level 3 course last year whilst I was testing at silverstone. I made a point of them contacting me about it and if I would get the details.
That was 8 months ago and I've heard nothing.
In short. If your young enough (as I was) to do it for free from the government go for it. But don't expect much apart from the name. If your paying, I wouldn't go knowing what I know now.
I was very excited to go to NC4M, but looking back as I'm now working in the trade it was crap.
Edited by XG332 on Monday 30th January 21:16
Thank you very much for the information. I would have to pay for it if I wasn't to do block release.
I went to Lackham college last year to do a BTEC Level 2 in Vehicle Technology (Motorsport) and they said the college was all singing and dancing and it truely wasn't, I know someone at NC4M this year who I went to Lackham with, he did say it was a lot better but had to be in a team to get the most out of it.
I believe they want to put me straight onto the level 3 course.
They said to me at the interview that they want me to be straight onto an apprenticeship as I have a tiny bit of experience and some theory.
I'm not minding it being very basic but aslong as I learn on the job I'll be ok.
Just finding a team which is a bit killing as most have nothing at the moment.
I am expecting and welcoming the long hours etc...
After may think of doing a HND after 2-3 years of the apprenticeship.
Someone at Cranfields who is head of the masters degree in MSEng, and he said if anything with college to go to NC4M. I'm in Plymouth currently so I need some thing like the college to help me get into the industry, especially with me being 19 in 2 days!
I went to Lackham college last year to do a BTEC Level 2 in Vehicle Technology (Motorsport) and they said the college was all singing and dancing and it truely wasn't, I know someone at NC4M this year who I went to Lackham with, he did say it was a lot better but had to be in a team to get the most out of it.
I believe they want to put me straight onto the level 3 course.
They said to me at the interview that they want me to be straight onto an apprenticeship as I have a tiny bit of experience and some theory.
I'm not minding it being very basic but aslong as I learn on the job I'll be ok.
Just finding a team which is a bit killing as most have nothing at the moment.
I am expecting and welcoming the long hours etc...
After may think of doing a HND after 2-3 years of the apprenticeship.
Someone at Cranfields who is head of the masters degree in MSEng, and he said if anything with college to go to NC4M. I'm in Plymouth currently so I need some thing like the college to help me get into the industry, especially with me being 19 in 2 days!
Cragglea1 said:
If your looking for a good college, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College (OCVC) is very good for motorsport education. The team there are well structured and many students go on to race teams or the supporting industries.
I've been accepted onto NC4M already... What does OCVC offer that NC4M dont?sam93 said:
I've been accepted onto NC4M already... What does OCVC offer that NC4M dont?
People who have worked in the industry.OCVC is superb, they are very structured and they have been doing the coirse for a few years. The used to be a part of NC4M (may still be) but when NC4M started, Tresham (as lead college) took all the money after the initial investment. OCVC at Bicester had a superb facility for fabrication. They also had a lot of contacts in motorsport.
I went to the nurburgring 24hr race through a contact with them and I got fulltime employment after the college course.
From my personal experience, the course wasn't worth doing, but the contacts made in my time there have been invaluble.
I don't think apprenticeships are that good an idea in motorsport. Experience matters far more than certificates unless you're in design/component testing etc.
I have currently a trial at a rally engine building firm.
You do say apprenticeships are no good, but you're in the work place working. So getting experience. I may also apply for OCVC apprenticeship course also then?
Surely though, if you got in a big team you will learn a lot, just have something from the college to say you've done it. As mainly in an apprenticeship you learn on the job anyway?
You do say apprenticeships are no good, but you're in the work place working. So getting experience. I may also apply for OCVC apprenticeship course also then?
Surely though, if you got in a big team you will learn a lot, just have something from the college to say you've done it. As mainly in an apprenticeship you learn on the job anyway?
sam93 said:
Surely though, if you got in a big team you will learn a lot,
Nope, in big teams F1 for instance you have people specialised in specific areas. If your in gearbox you wont go near the engine side of things.Im in a small team and you name it i do it, coffee making, pitstop tyre changes, refueling, truck loading, rebuilds ect ect
XG332 said:
Nope, in big teams F1 for instance you have people specialised in specific areas. If your in gearbox you wont go near the engine side of things.
Im in a small team and you name it i do it, coffee making, pitstop tyre changes, refueling, truck loading, rebuilds ect ect
Oh yeah, I didn't mean F1 for instance. Obviously they have all specialised people. I meant with being in an apprenticeship and say working for someone like Fortec lets say, you'll learn more on the job than in College anyway, as I've been in college for a year and I find it easier to remember and learn it while doing it.Im in a small team and you name it i do it, coffee making, pitstop tyre changes, refueling, truck loading, rebuilds ect ect
I love engine building and always wanted to get involved with it, so I'm hoping maybe this bloke will help me out at JRE Engines (Builds rally engines for likes of mk2 escorts, most go to Ireland) Said if I start off doing small jobs, he will slowly teach me. Better than any qualification I think. Don't know if National College of Motorsport will allow that as a apprenticeship though, as even though building motorsport engines, I am not in a team.
I've now found a placement. Not in Devon as I first hoped though.
But, I have a brilliant opportunity which I am starting soon in Cheshire @ OC Racing, whilst doing block release at NC4M. Going around europe, doing fabrication/welding/engineering/technician. So a brilliant opportunity, and glad I have secured the position.
But, I have a brilliant opportunity which I am starting soon in Cheshire @ OC Racing, whilst doing block release at NC4M. Going around europe, doing fabrication/welding/engineering/technician. So a brilliant opportunity, and glad I have secured the position.
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