Motorsport Engineering student gears up for graduate role

A third year University of Wolverhampton Motorsport Engineering Student is gearing up for a graduate role after securing a position as a Graduate Engineer at Prodrive Advanced Technology. 

Rebecca Manton, 27, from Shropshire, recently received a £1,000 scholarship boost from local solicitors, FBC Manby Bowdler, for excelling in her studies in the School of Engineering. Rebecca has continued her success by securing her first role in the engineering sector as a Graduate Engineer at Oxfordshire based Prodrive, which specialises in automotive, defence and marine technology.  

With Rebecca nearing the end of her studies and due to graduate later this year, the recent scholarship from FBC has eased the financial burden of self-funding, with the money being used to help pay off her tuition fees.  

Whilst Rebecca’s future looks set in stone, there is still work to be done at the University as the Formula Student team, part of UWR (the University of Wolverhampton Race Team) is getting ready to debut its new aerodynamic package at Silverstone at the end of July.  

It will be the first year the car will be running an aerodynamic package and the team are hoping to see progress on the previous years’ results. 

Rebecca said: “I’ve been responsible for designing and now manufacturing the front wing of this year’s car which the student team builds from scratch in the workshop at the Telford Innovation Campus. 

“It’s the first year that the car has run an aerodynamic package so it’s quite exciting being the first one to do that - we’re hoping that we can boost our scores and get higher up in the results.” 

The Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Formula Student Competition aims to develop enterprising and innovative young engineers and encourage more young people to take up a career in engineering and is backed by industry and high-profile engineers such as Patron, Ross Brawn, OBE. 

The event provides an opportunity for the students to test, demonstrate and improve their capabilities to deliver a complex and integrated product in the demanding environment of a motorsport competition. 

On International Women in Engineering Day (Wednesday 23 June 2021), Rebecca offered some advice for any women thinking of studying a course within the engineering sector. 

She said: “Grab hold of every opportunity you can get, get as much experience as you can, don’t let it hold you back that you’re a woman in a male-dominated sector because I’ve had no problem with it at University at all.” 

Anyone looking to study at the University of Wolverhampton should register for one of our forthcoming Open Days.  

ENDS