The NZUK Link Foundation has partnered with the University of Auckland UK Friends and McLaren Engineering to fund an internship programme in the UK for NZ students.
Bruce McLaren was born and raised in Auckland where he started racing aged. Bruce was studying
Engineering at the University of Auckland in 1957 when he won the first New Zealand International Grand Prix
Association's "Driver to Europe" programme. Fast forward almost 60 years and in November 2016 McLaren
Automotive and the UK Friends of the University of Auckland launched a unique internship for students to spend time at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, UK.
The Bruce McLaren Internships are life changing opportunities that give students experience of a high technology and innovative industry. There are two internships available annually - one with McLaren Automotive and the other with McLaren Racing. The internships are open to University of Auckland students and run over the New Zealand summer, from mid-December until the end of February for 12 weeks. During their time in Woking the Interns work in different functions across McLaren Automotive or McLaren Racing,
from Materials and Design to Electrical systems and Powertrain.
This year's interns are Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland mechanical engineering students Sabrina Yarndley and Joshua Cates. They will be based at the iconic MTC and McLaren Production Centres where they will have stints with designers and engineers, as well as with marketing and aftersales teams to gain a unique insight into the workings of the 3,000-strong workforce.
“It's very humbling to be a Bruce McLaren engineering scholar,” says Joshua. “I personally know many others that are just as deserving of it and so to be awarded it myself is a great honour. McLaren is the kind of company I never saw myself being able to get close to, so I'm excited to be here.”
The pair were recently interviewed by TVNZ about their experiences of the internship.
The NZUK Link Foundation contributed to the scholarship funding, extending the length of the internship available to the scholars. This was the first project the Foundation has contributed to from its second endowment left by Dr Elman Poole for the advancement and promotion of STEM.