Fancy working for McLaren?
Well, it would help if you're in the textiles industry. And you live in the north of England
Ask any sizeable firm what their most pressing issue is and they will likely say 'recruitment'. Car companies are certainly no different, it is one of the reasons why they a) employ a significant number of graduates and apprentices, and b) look to base themselves in established areas of expertise (which partly explains why the Geely design studio that will lead work on Lotus's two forthcoming SUVs is destined for the Midlands, not Norfolk).
Obviously things get even trickier when you're trying to stand-up an entire new production facility all in one go, just as McLaren is doing with its Composites Technology Centre in Sheffield. The manufacturer expects MCTC to be fully up and running next year, which will require a doubling of its current workforce.
Good news then for anyone with experience in boat-building, the textiles trade or sporting goods industries, because McLaren is keen to attract people used to working with fabric. Which is precisely what carbon fibre begins life as before it is cut and placed into the moulds that turn it into impressively strong components like the tub of a 720S.
"As we're working with advanced, lightweight materials in new ways that have never been used before on this scale for car production, McLaren is looking for a range of skills you wouldn't normally associate with the automotive industry," said McLaren's CEO, Mike Flewitt.
"We're also looking to hire apprentices and degree apprentices. The advanced technologies and processes they will be working on could one day be used in other industries to produce lighter, and therefore more efficient, vehicles which will not only help McLaren to continue to innovate, but the UK to become a global leader in composite materials expertise."
The announcement of its recruitment drive comes a year to the day since the Sheffield-based facility was officially opened, and it expects the new roles to be phased in early next year. It's not all about carbon fibre either - a quick look at McLaren's career site confirms that it is also looking to recruit staff in Energy Storage Systems, particularly those with experience of prototype builds as it starts the journey toward a proposed EV hypercar. We can think of less exciting places to work...
In the end I couldn’t wait to get out of the place
All those story’s of eat your dinner off the floor etc
Is basically bks that all came to an end when Ron was ousted it’s just like a normal factory now over crowded crap organisation and constant lack of parts
Never again awful place
They really didn't do a good job of selling the role to him.
Employers need to realise that quality staff can pick and choose who they work for.
In the end I couldn’t wait to get out of the place
All those story’s of eat your dinner off the floor etc
Is basically bks that all came to an end when Ron was ousted it’s just like a normal factory now over crowded crap organisation and constant lack of parts
Never again awful place
Also have another friend who worked his internship there, designing grahpics, and had a very good time indeed.
One of the few benefits of getting older is that you build a reasonable network, so I did the usual thing and asked around before proceeding, and I can honestly say I've never had such universally negative feedback about a company before. Normally you get people who've had both good and bad experiences, but it was all horribly negative. None of the present or former employees I spoke to had a good word to say about the place. Except for one chap who said he very occasionally gets to take a press car home for a weekend if it needs some miles putting on it before it goes to a magazine for a test, people were incredibly down on the place.
Got the same story (almost to the word) from everyone. Not going to list all the failings, but the car park debacle and the hopelessly overcrowded offices which are presumably peculiar to Woking were the bits that concerned me least, frankly speaking.
Given what they do, and their brand and reputation, it should be an amazing company to work for.
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