Grove: Williams Advanced Engineering Facility opened by prime minister David Cameron

Prime minister David Cameron has opened the new Williams Advanced Engineering facility on the same site as the Williams Martini Racing Formula One team.

The dedicated, state-of-the-art 3,800 sq m R&D facility is the result of £8 million of Williams investment and will accommodate up to 250 design engineers. Its aim is to use F1-bred knowledge to deliver cutting edge technology to a variety of sectors

Cameron officially opened the facility on Friday in Grove, Oxfordshire. The prime minister was joined at the launch by Williams team principal Sir Frank Williams, group CEO Mike O’Driscoll and Williams Advanced Engineering managing director Craig Wilson.

The facility is a state-of-the-art site R&D site that features a groundfloor workshop with F1-inspired build bays that can be used for one-off projects or low-volume production. The facility will accommodate up to 250 design engineers and also features a number of confidential rooms where projects can be worked on in complete secrecy – vital given the nature of Williams Advanced Engineering’s client base.

The aim of Williams Advanced Engineering is simple: to use the technology, know-how and rapid development skills honed in F1 to deliver cutting edge technology solutions to the automotive, motorsport, transport and energy sectors. The company specialises in delivering energy efficient performance for its clients and does this in four key areas: hybrid power systems and electronics, dynamics, advanced lightweight materials and cutting edge aerodynamics. This expertise in energy efficient technologies first began with the hybridisation of F1 cars in 2009, with Williams becoming the only team to develop its hybrid technologies entirely in house.

Cameron said: “Formula One is a world beating, hi-tech industry and I am very proud that Britain and British engineers and designers play such a key role within it. Williams opening their Advanced Engineering facility in Oxfordshire is great news for the local area and a vote of confidence in our long-term economic plan to back business, create jobs and secure a better future for Britain.”

Mike O’Driscoll added: “We are honoured to have the Prime Minister here today to join us at the start of an extremely exciting time for Williams Advanced Engineering. This new state-of-the-art building gives our talented and diverse skills base a home and provides capacity for 250 designers, engineers and technicians. Williams’ diversification programme has achieved much over the past few years and from here I expect Williams Advanced Engineering to make rapid progress. Improving energy efficiency is an important global concern and we are confident that Williams has the unique know-how and resources to play an important role in tackling this issue.”