XTRAC
ACADEMY

FUTURE
LEADERS

FORGING OUR OWN FUTURE

For over 30 years we have been forging our own future by offering award winning apprentice and undergraduate training. With the opening of the Xtrac Academy in 2022, we are investing further in the future of our company by providing structured training for our innovative future leaders.

Through our outreach programmes with local schools we also provide work experience for year 10, 11 and 12 pupils to get a taste of mechanical engineering in a high performance environment. Additionally, we offer paid summer intern work for students studying at university, usually in their first or second year.

INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE

INTRODUCING THE XTRAC ACADEMY

“Moving from fossil fuels through hybrid to fully electric motive power, the global transportation system is on a once in a generation journey towards decarbonisation. Royally recognised for its innovation, Xtrac’s EV transmissions are a key component for these future low carbon transportation systems.”

Adrian Moore, CEO

Apprentices

Your Engineering Journey Starts Here

At Xtrac, our award-winning apprenticeship programme blends hands-on training with academic study, giving you the skills, confidence, and career opportunities to succeed in world-class engineering.

Year 1: Rotate across departments as a Level 2 Engineering Operative (4 days in production, 1 study day per week with internal delivery of your apprenticeship).

Year 2–3: Progress to a Level 3 Apprenticeship in your chosen pathway – Machinist, Technical Support Technician, or Engineering Fitter – while contributing to live projects.

Completion: Graduate with nationally recognised qualifications, with the option to continue to HNC or Degree level.

You will be supported throughout your training by our Apprentice Academy team, who will ensure that your transition into Xtrac and full-time employment is as smooth as possible.

As a school leaver, you can choose between Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships, both following an IfATE-approved advanced apprenticeship in mechanical engineering.

Our apprenticeships don’t just prepare you for a role – they build the next generation of engineering leaders.

The window for apprenticeship applications is now open until 28th February 2026, with the selection process being held during March/April.

Undergraduates

As an undergraduate you will benefit from a paid one year undergraduate work placement which is open to any mechanical or motorsport engineering student studying for a Bachelor's or Master’s degree.

You will gain exposure of a diverse mix of projects, broadening your knowledge and skills. This is your opportunity to experience working within the professional engineering community for the worldwide leader in the design and manufacture of transmission systems, providing you with an excellent grounding to enable your future career to flourish.

Your placement within our engineering team will enhance your understanding of how a successful organisation works. During the year-long placement you will gain experience on both new and current products, and develop your personal and professional skills.

The placement offers you a formal induction, including full training on Siemens NX computer aided engineering (CAE) software and once completed you will contribute to real programmes as a valued team member on the next generation of Motorsport and High Performance Automotive transmissions. For those students with an analytical focus you will be working in our Advanced Engineering group utilising the very latest simulation and analysis software.

During your placement you will be assigned a mentor, receiving regular reviews and feedback to ensure that expectations are being realised. It is Xtrac’s aim to drive high performance during your placement year and those who perform exceptionally will be sponsored for their final year with a job offer on successful completion.

Our undergraduate scheme application window is closed for 2026.

Graduates

As our business continues to grow, so do our exciting graduate opportunities. If you’re either a recent graduate or someone on track to graduate this year and have a real interest in working with some of the world’s most prestigious motorsport and automotive customers, then we’d love to hear from you.

We’re always keen to nurture and develop the careers of ambitious individuals who strive for success and have a desire to grow their career with Xtrac. As a successful applicant, you will have the opportunity to further develop key skills in your chosen discipline through exposure to a variety of transmission systems and architectures across a range of projects, through both team and independent work, with additional training where required.

Customer visits and / or track support could become a regular part of your job role so you’ll never be far from the action when it comes to the latest in transmission technology.

Graduate job roles are frequently posted, please refer to our careers page for current vacancies.

Internships

We offer paid summer intern work for science or engineering students currently studying at University, usually in their first or second year. For a 6-8 week period you will work either in our Advanced Engineering department (R&D or Gear Technology) or with our operations team supporting our engineers and technicians and be responsible for delivering a core business project. In many cases our interns have gone on to be successful in their application for an undergraduate sponsorship with Xtrac.

Work Experience Week

Our work experience programme is suitable for local school pupils in year 10, 11 or 12, for pupils studying GCSEs, BTEC, A Levels or T Levels, which offers a unique experience of manufacturing in a high performance environment.

During our week-long work experience, students spend time in each of Xtrac’s key departments, including engineering, manufacturing, build shop and commercial, developing important new skills to help get their motorsport / automotive / engineering career off to a racing start.

Applications for our work experience week which will take place from Monday 6th July - Friday 10th July 2026 are now open.

All candidates will be contacted one month before the work experience takes place and will be informed if they have been successful in securing a place.

Work Experience Days

For those students interested in finding out more about Xtrac, either as an individual or maybe as part of a group from a school or college as we can accommodate up to 15 students at any one visit, we have the following work experience days available on:

Wednesday 15th October 2025
Wednesday 14th January 2026
Thursday 23rd April 2026
Thursday 2nd July 2026
Thursday 15th October 2026

Students will be provided with an overview of the company, understand what careers are available as well as meet some of our amazing employees.

Please complete the form with your preferred date and a reserve date.

All candidates will be contacted one month before the work experience takes place and will be informed if they have been successful in securing a place.

Further Education

Xtrac will always encourage you to maximise your potential, offering study support for your chosen field, as agreed in your personal development plan.

As part of your development, you will have the opportunity to top up your apprenticeship with an HNC, progressing to an HND and even to degree level.

If you have graduated from a degree course, Xtrac can support you in achieving your Master’s or PHD.

Non-engineers can also benefit from Xtrac’s support, for example those working in a finance role wanting to achieve Certified Chartered Accountant status.

T Level Placements

T Levels are high-quality technical qualifications for learners aged 16 to 19, combining classroom study with practical experience. At Xtrac Academy, we offer a small number of structured industry placements designed to help students build real-world skills and prepare for future careers.

Would you be interested in joining us?
Email apprentice_academy@xtrac.com to learn more—opportunities are limited and highly competitive.

YOU MATTER TO US

Your future and our future are inextricably linked. As we move forward in our position of number one global high performance transmission manufacturer, it’s essential that we work with new, young people. In that way, our journey's into the future can be mutually assured.

RECOGNITION

ACKNOWLEDGING YOUR EFFORTS

If you are an outstanding apprentice or are excelling whilst studying for a bachelor’s degree or higher or equivalent qualification, your achievements will be rated along with those of your peers in the judging process for one of our coveted annual awards.

The Darren Huttel Award, named after the former well-loved Xtrac employee and ex apprentice who suddenly and unexpectedly passed away at aged 35 in September 2005 is open to all current Xtrac apprentices. Voting criteria for the award takes into consideration quality of college work and overall performance and conduct both at work and at college.

The Mark O’Brien Award recognises employees supported by the company for a bachelor’s degree or higher or equivalent qualification. Consideration is given to academic progress, contribution to the business and the wider community, their personal development over the past 12 months, and their positive attitude in offering and implementing improvement ideas.

Mark O’Brien who, despite fighting valiantly against cancer, lost his battle in October 2014 worked at Xtrac as a Business Manager for 3 years and made a significant contribution to the company and became an extremely well-respected member of the commercial team.

ACCREDITATIONS

OUTSTANDING TRAINING AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

Recognised in the Princess Royal Training Awards in 2024, 2021 and 2018.

Following a rigorous assessment by the City & Guilds Group, Xtrac has received its third Princess Royal Training Award.

It is the only company in the automotive and motorsport industry to win the apprenticeship training mark of recognition for a third time.

“We’re delighted to receive this accolade again because it recognises our long-standing investment in developing the proficiency of all our multi-skilled employees,” says Xtrac’s chief executive, Adrian Moore, who began his career as an undergraduate sponsored by Rolls-Royce. “The hard work we put into our training schemes ensures the capability of our future workforce for the benefit of all stakeholders, including our customers, employees, investors, and suppliers. It is the cornerstone of our success.”

COLLABORATIONS

WORKING WITH COMPANIES THAT SHARE OUR VALUES

Xtrac works with a number of training focused organisations including IMechE, Newbury College, City and Guilds, Industry Skills Board, Talent Gen, Farnborough College of Technology, West Berkshire Training Consortium, The MIA and many universities offering relevant training courses.

Working with GTA (Group Training Associations), Xtrac has fed back and assisted IFATE (Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education) with developing future apprenticeship standards.

In conjunction with the BGA (British Gear Association), you will either gain initial knowledge of gearing or extend your existing skills and knowledge as part of your continual development plan, if relevant to your chosen role.

We work with iHASCO to provide regular and up-to-date online training for all employees in areas such as Essential Health and Safety, HR, DSE and Manual Handling.