From BCoT to F1: How Ashley Appleby is Driving Change in Motorsport
A former Basingstoke student is championing women's representation in motorsport and gaming industries – and she says it all started with the confidence she built during her media course at Basingstoke College of Technology.
Ashley Appleby studied the Level 3 extended diploma in TV, Film and Media between 2015 and 2018.
For the past seven years, Ashley, who grew up in Tadley, has been working as a brand and content manager within the motorsport and Esports industry, representing major clients such as Formula 1, Formula E, global logistics company DSV, and Atlassian Williams Formula 1 Team.
She says the confidence the course instilled in her set her up for the career she has today and encouraged her to give other women a voice in the male-dominated industry.
“The course didn’t just teach me technical skills, but really helped me understand how the industry works, while giving me opportunities to gain real-life, hands-on experience that went far beyond the classroom,” Ashley explains.
“But it also built my confidence to express myself creatively and professionally and encouraged me to pursue opportunities I might not have gone for and speak on tough subjects like the lack of female representation in motorsport and gaming.”
Ashley plays a key role at SimStaff, a simulator provider that works with leading brands across motorsport. In 2024, she joined a panel at Silverstone alongside Jennie Gow, a BBC Formula 1 presenter, for a discussion hosted in collaboration with Girls Across The Grid, focused on representation and creating more opportunities for women in the industry.
“Speaking on the panel was a fantastic experience - it’s not something I would have seen myself doing before. Motorsport and gaming are still very male-dominated industries, and breaking into them wasn’t easy. However, now that I’m here, I want to help make it easier for other women to follow their passions and dreams too. In the future, I’d love to find more ways to support that - whether that’s through speaking, mentoring, or advocating for women in the industry - so more women can see it as a real option for them.”
Ashley is supporting BCoT’s campaign to reconnect with former students as part of their 75th year celebrations. In partnership with the Basingstoke Gazette, the campaign aims to build a vibrant alumni community that not only celebrates the college's impact on the careers and lives of people across Basingstoke and Hampshire but also allows former students to inspire the next generation through work experience placements, apprenticeships, mentoring and speaking at student events.
BCoT is calling on former full-time and part-time students to get back in touch and share their stories and Ashley, who was also one of the college’s Digital Leaders, is hoping people take up the call.
She said: “A lot of the skills, mindset, and confidence I rely on today really started at BCoT, and I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunities the college and amazing staff gave me. I still keep in touch with people from my course and remember everything really fondly.”
