McLaren to create 1,000 new full of part time jobs in the UK

Supercar manufacturer McLaren is set to create around 1,000 full or part jobs in the UK as part of a major £450 million investment in technology and innovation.

The investment will see McLaren expand its technology centre in Woking, Surrey, creating a significant number of new opportunities across the automotive and technology sectors.

For young people considering a career in engineering, technology, manufacturing or the automotive industry, the announcement comes as a major boost.

McLaren currently employs around 2,500 people and the new positions will include direct employees as well as indirect and agency workers. The company’s Woking technology centre is located close to the site where its high performance vehicles are manufactured.

The investment follows McLaren’s merger last year with Forseven Holdings, a UK electric vehicle technology company and forms part of a wider investment programme under the company’s new ownership.

McLaren’s automotive business was acquired last year by CYVN Holdings, an Abu Dhabi-based investment company, which has said it plans to invest around $2 billion (£1.4 billion) in the wider McLaren group over the next five years.

For young people, the expansion highlights the increasingly broad range of skills required by the modern automotive industry.

While McLaren is famous for producing supercars, the technology behind today's vehicles encompasses far more than traditional mechanical engineering. Opportunities across the sector include engineering, software development, electronics, data, manufacturing, design, research and development, business operations and supply chain roles.

The growth of electric and increasingly technology-driven vehicles is also changing the types of skills automotive companies need.

McLaren has been expanding its technology capabilities following its combination with Forseven, which specialises in electric vehicle technology. The company is also understood to be considering a broader product range as part of its plans for future growth.

For someone looking for their first step into the industry, that creates potential opportunities well beyond the workshop floor.

Other major manufacturers have recently announced significant changes to their workforces. Jaguar Land Rover, for example, has confirmed plans to cut around 4,000 jobs over the next two years, while Volkswagen has announced plans to reduce its global workforce substantially by 2030.

Against that backdrop, McLaren's decision to invest heavily in its UK operations and create new jobs represents a notable commitment to developing its technology and engineering capabilities here.

The automotive industry is also undergoing a major transformation as manufacturers respond to the growth of electric vehicles, advances in artificial intelligence and increasing use of software and automation.

Commenting on the announcement, the managing director of manufacturer Edale, Lachlan Buirds, said: “McLaren’s investment is a welcome reminder that UK manufacturing is a sector with a future. Recent redundancy announcements understandably attract attention, but they risk giving young people the impression that UK manufacturing is an industry in decline.”

“In reality, modern manufacturing increasingly depends on engineering, automation, software and digital technology, creating a much broader range of career opportunities,” added the MD.

McLaren's expansion also demonstrates how careers can develop from one industry into another. Skills in software, data, electronics and engineering can be relevant across automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, technology and other sectors.

So even if working for a supercar manufacturer isn't your ultimate goal, the skills required by companies such as McLaren can open doors to a much wider range of careers.

For students and other young people, news of large scale recruitment from a company such as McLaren is a reminder that careers in technology and engineering aren't limited to traditional routes.