The collaboration continues...

Hello! It’s me, Javier, I’m back to give an update on our sponsorship and car progress. Earlier last week we announced on social media that our Platinum Sponsors, BAE Systems, are continuing to collaborate with us throughout the 20/21 season, this is massive news for the team as the multinational arms, security and aerospace company which provides us with sponsorship, manufacturing aid and expertise was once again willing to support our F1 in Schools journey. This collaboration was incredibly valuable in our first season, we would not have been so successful without them.

Finding a sponsor like BAE Systems which can not only provide sponsorship but other forms of support is immensely beneficial for a team wanting to succeed in this competition. We gain the advice and manufacturing abilities of industry experts and also receive significant sponsorship from this deal, making the partnership essential. It is important for us to give back to them in the best way possible, for us that is using their generous sponsorship to reinvest in our community. 

So... how to do it for yourself? Eclipse’s top tip for gaining sponsorship is to go local, so many teams try to get the big companies, such as car makers, household brands etc. Look local, many companies want to inspire the next generation of engineers/entrepreneurs. We went with a 3 stage approach, a letter, a follow up email, and finally a phone call. This was A LOT of work with lots and lots of ‘no’ responses, but eventually the work paid off. Be sure to have a detailed return on investment plan, let the companies know what you will do for them as a result of gaining their money, services  and/or expertise.

Tom and I are seeking advice from BAE Systems engineers about various parts of the car we are looking to develop. The joy of having external advice is that they set deadlines that you have to stick to. This week they asked us to produce a multipage document with information, engineering drawings and diagrams of various concepts. They will in turn give their opinions and advice on which concepts could actually be manufactured. We hope to meet with them soon and finalise some concepts to test when we return to school early on next month…

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UP NEXT: Maisie will provide you with an update on the development of the teams verbal presentation skills and our pit display collaboration. ​