• Ford is celebrating 20 years of partnership with Greenpower - a UK charity that challenges students aged 9-25 to design, build and race electric cars, giving them hands-on STEM experience
• On 21^st June, Ford UK is hosting the annual Greenpower regional race Dunton Heat that turns the Dunton Campus test track into a live engineering lab, with 55+ student-built EVs tackling sprint and time-trial challenges
• UK could face a huge shortfall of EV-qualified technicians by 2035, so partnerships and events like this help build the skills pipeline the industry urgently needs

DUNTON, UK, July 02, 2025 – Britain could be short of around 30,000 qualified electric‑vehicle technicians by 2035, according to the Institute of the Motor Industry[i]. This matters even more because the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate ramps the share of new zero-emission cars from 28% today to 80% by 2030 and 100 % by 2035, meaning the majority of new vehicles those technicians will work on in the future will be electric.

To address this skills gap, Ford turned its Dunton Campus into a live engineering lab where school teams design, build and race their own battery‑powered cars – proving that the next generation of talent is already in the making. Greenpower Education Trust – the UK charity behind the challenge – harnesses the excitement of motorsport to inspire more than 10 000 young people every year. Teams aged 9 – 25 progress through designing, building and racing electric cars that start as kit builds and evolve into scratch-engineered machines, giving participants hands-on STEM skills and a clear pathway into engineering careers.

On Saturday 21 June, Dunton Heat 2025 saw more than 55 cars built by students aged 9-16 take to Ford’s test track. Guided by Ford employee volunteers, teams tackled sprint challenges, slalom races and an endurance race heat that reflects real‑world EV testing.

Around 200 Ford employees volunteered at Dunton this year, filling roles from scrutineering and pit‑lane control to judging design awards, and sharing career advice that spans battery safety, software and motorsport‑style data analysis.

Since 2004, Ford’s support has helped Greenpower give thousands of students nationwide the chance to turn classroom theory into practical engineering experience. The 2025 edition also forms part of Greenpower’s 20 years of relationship with Ford, highlighting a partnership that keeps evolving alongside the skills the industry needs.

Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, said: “Ford is incredibly proud to mark 20 years of partnership with Greenpower Education Trust. Encouraging young people to pursue STEM careers is critical to the future of mobility, and Greenpower provides an outstanding platform to ignite that passion.”

Barnabas Shelbourne, CEO, Greenpower Education Trust, added: “Greenpower is immensely grateful for Ford’s long-standing partnership and their foresight in recognising the value of investing in young engineering talent. For over 20 years, Ford has been a cornerstone supporter of the charity, and without their commitment, we simply would not have been able to reach and inspire thousands of young people. The Ford Dunton event has become a highlight in our calendar—offering students a unique chance to go behind the scenes at a leading automotive facility and experience the thrill of driving their cars on the test track. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ford for making this opportunity possible, and to the incredible volunteers who work tirelessly to bring the day to life, we look forward to the next 20 years of collaboration.”

# # #

[i] Further growth in EV qualified automotive aftermarket workforce | Institute of The Motor Industry