Neil Patterson, Principal, Silverstone UTC

As senior designer for McLaren Automotive, Neil Patterson was used to projects with a steep learning curve. But his latest career puts him on the steepest of all. Patterson is taking on the role of principal at Silverstone University Technical College, taking students from age 14–19 through GSCEs and A-levels aimed at preparing them for careers in high-performance engineering.

It’s quite a change for Patterson, whose previous position saw him working as body engineering manager on the Mercedes SLR Coupe and chief engineer on the SLR Roadster, MP4-12C and 12C Spider. ‘Lots of great cars to be involved with, stretching the technical boundaries in each case,’ he said. ‘Nearly 14 years of relentless development has taught me how to develop high-performing teams and how to get things done efficiently.’

While at McLaren, Patterson became interested in engineering education; speaking to The Engineer in 2011, he talked about engaging with young people at that year’s Big Bang Fair and judging the Senior Young Engineer of the Year Award. Taking on the Silverstone UTC position develops that interest. ‘This represented an opportunity to encourage young people into engineering and really make a difference in the way they are educated, with nearly half of the learning being developed with and for the engineering firms in the region including F2 teams,’ he said. ‘It really was too big a pull to resist.’