Star Academies and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 extend Future Engineers Academy for second year

Star Academies has confirmed the return of its Future Engineers Academy partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team in England, expanding engineering-focused learning for secondary students across Birmingham after a first year that reached more than 1,300 learners.

Star Academies, a UK multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across England, has confirmed that its Future Engineers Academy collaboration with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team will run for a second year.

The initiative focuses on engineering, technology, and motorsport pathways for students in England, combining classroom-based learning with direct exposure to industry professionals and real-world engineering challenges.

The year two program began with a launch event bringing together secondary students from Small Heath Leadership Academy, Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy Birmingham, Star King Solomon Academy, and Starbank School. Students met engineers and technical specialists from the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, alongside delivery partners Motivez and Driven By Us. A primary phase launch is planned for later in the spring.

Reflecting on the partnership’s progress Mufti Hamid Patel, Chief Executive of Star Academies, says: “Seeing our pupils explore and experiment through the Future Engineers Academy is incredibly inspiring. Working alongside the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Motivez, and Driven By Us, they are gaining hands-on experience, learning from world-class engineers, and discovering what is possible when creativity, teamwork, and determination come together.”

Building on year one outcomes in English schools

During its first year, the Future Engineers Academy delivered hands-on workshops, engineering challenges, and enrichment activities across Star Academies schools in England. Students worked on projects including sustainable F1 car concepts, kart building, coding tasks, and LEGO-based engineering exercises.

The program concluded with a visit to the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team’s Brackley factory, where students explored race car components and presented their own designs directly to F1 engineers.

Elaine Hayes, Assistant Principal at Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy Birmingham, says the impact on students was immediate: “The first year of the Future Engineers Academy has been transformational for our pupils. Through hands-on projects, expert mentoring and real-world visits, young people who might never have considered engineering have discovered practical skills, teamwork and a newfound confidence.”

Year two increases technical challenge and national competition

In its second year, the program will introduce more complex engineering and design challenges. Students will take part in competitions judged by motorsport engineers and gain ongoing access to Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team staff throughout the program.

New elements include a motorsport-focused sustainability challenge, expanded coding activities, and a national kart build competition against other schools, allowing students to test their skills beyond their local area.

Patel adds: “As the programme enters its next chapter, we are giving young people even more opportunities to spark their imagination, take on new challenges, and develop the skills and confidence to shape their own futures.”

Inclusion remains a central focus

The Future Engineers Academy continues to prioritize participation from groups underrepresented in engineering and motorsport in England, including girls, students from ethnic minority backgrounds, and those from areas of social and economic disadvantage.

From the industry side, the program forms part of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team’s wider work around inclusion and skills development.

Hiran Odedra, Head of Inclusion and Social Impact at Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, says: “As a team we are committed to driving positive change not just within our sport, but in the wider Engineering sector. It’s a pleasure to collaborate with Star Academies to bring the Future Engineers Academy into primary and secondary classrooms and watch the students grow their skills and confidence in STEM.”

The second year will conclude with a new end-of-year celebration in July, recognizing student achievements across all strands of the program and marking the next stage of the partnership’s delivery across England.

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