25 exceptional young women in STEM were brought together for a week of hands-on learning, inspiration, and career exploration, concluding with a wrap-event at the McLaren Technology Centre.

NEXT was new for 2025, born out of previous, similar, successful McLaren Racing initiatives, such as the 60 Scholars Programme.

Aimed at breaking down barriers and providing further support to the next generation, it was run in collaboration with three of our industry-leading partners, Allwyn, Cisco, and Deloitte UK, and Official Learning and Skills Partner Udemy, who supported the participants through immersive masterclasses, workshops, panels, and mentorship sessions.

Twenty-five successful applicants from across the UK, US, and EU spent five days developing practical, transferable skills designed to help them thrive as their careers progress, while building a powerful professional network of peers and mentors who could become a lasting source of support and inspiration.

The entirely in-person, week-long course was hosted at our Woking-based factory, the McLaren Technology Centre, and our programme partners’ London-based offices. We had covered all associated travel costs in an effort to reach a broader and more diverse talent pool, while ensuring it remained accessible to all.

“At McLaren Racing, we know that diversity of thought leads to success on and off the track,” said McLaren Racing’s Chief People & Sustainability Officer Daniel Gallo. “The inaugural NEXT programme has proven to be a fantastic opportunity to give an extremely talented group of young women in STEM some unique insights from the McLaren team and our amazing partners.”

With the help of our partners, we were able to deliver an impactful, hands-on experience to a targeted group of aspiring female leaders in STEM. When comparing pre- and post-programme surveys, completed by the participants, we can see that NEXT drove measurable growth across the areas of development we had targeted: awareness, personal goals and expectations, career interests, skills and confidence, challenges and barriers, motivation, and partner engagement.

One of the programme's primary aims was to improve the scholars’ awareness of STEM pathways and partner organisations to give them a better understanding of the career options available to them.

We achieved this by connecting participants with inspiring STEM leaders from diverse backgrounds. The 25 students said they came away from NEXT with an improved understanding of STEM pathways and partner organisations​, a broader knowledge of roles across engineering, commercial, and tech​, and most importantly, a clearer career direction and self-defined success metrics​.

Equipped with a better understanding of the breadth of opportunities accessible to them, we also wanted to increase their chances of success when pursuing these opportunities. Throughout the week, we also delivered a series of hands-on workshops and engaging panel discussions. The participants rated these sessions as highly valuable and inspiring​. They felt they had made substantial gains in career readiness and now had a stronger belief in their potential to step into future roles​.

Students will be able to continue to grow their skills thanks to our Official Learning and Skills Partner Udemy, which has provided them with access to a bespoke learning platform. This includes all of the course materials and features additional learning opportunities, which remain available to students after completing the course.

Communication and networking were critical themes woven through every part of the NEXT Programme. We wanted to highlight that skills and talent aren’t enough - in order to succeed in any career, you need to be able to communicate effectively with others.

Through the workshops and panel discussions, we worked to develop communication skills while building their network of peers. The students said they came away from the programme feeling more confident in tackling personal and systemic barriers, reporting that they had made strong gains in communication and networking.

By utilising these skills, students will never need to feel like they are walking this path alone, as they’ll have a network of mentors and peers with whom they can communicate, providing them with support and new opportunities.

“One of the most refreshing elements of the programme is the way it has been able to showcase the breadth of what is possible in the world of STEM, with learning experiences from not only McLaren Racing team members but from across a number of our programme partners – including Cisco, Allwyn and Deloitte – who are all leaders in their own area,” continued Daniel.

“The sessions provided hands-on experience, which in turn provides the tangible skills that  are essential to helping the cohort of attendees prepare to become industry leaders of the future.”

Following the completion of the course, the 25 enthusiastic young women in STEM will now look to take the next step in their careers, using the lessons they’ve learnt and the peers and mentors they’ve met as a springboard for future success.