Sunlight breaking through the trees in the New Forest
Students and staff at Sparsholt College were inspired as Formula 1 legends Jody Scheckter, and Ross Brawn OBE officially opened the new multi-million pound Motor Vehicle and Engineering complex on the campus today.
The guests of honour brought their exceptional experiences to life in their keynote speeches, while students demonstrated their own skills and talents learned in the new industry standard facilities that have become the central hub for motor vehicle and engineering studies at the College.
Principal Tim Jackson invited Ross Brawn OBE, who is renowned as the “engineering brains” behind many Formula 1 world title wins, to address the guests, he said: “I started as a mechanical engineering apprentice and I always remember the maxim that ‘luck is preparation waiting for an opportunity’. What I’d like to say to the young students, is today is your preparation, your opportunities will come in some stage of your life. If you’ve got the training and have had the education, you can grab those opportunities.”
Like many of the Sparsholt students at the event today, former World Champion and now local business owner and farmer Jody Scheckter, also started his career at a college saying: “I left school and went to a technical college to work with cars and really loved it – I was switched on to learning there. The facilities here are far better and my career has flourished from those early days, so if you keep at it, the sky’s the limit.”
Jody and Ross unveiled an official plaque on this landmark building designed by architects Househam Henderson and built by Amari Construction. They were joined by industry guests and representatives from local schools including Test Valley School whose students sent their best wishes in a specially designed card which they and staff signed and presented to the College today.
The Motor Vehicle and Agriculture Engineering complex incorporates workshops and state-of-the-art dedicated welding and fabrication facilities all demonstrating the highest level of sustainable environmental performance. Fully equipped with the latest technology students are trained by experts to gain real experience for a successful career in the industry, working on a range of vehicles from everyday motorcars to specialist agriculture vehicles.
