Leonardo LEAP offers engineering careers for Armed Forces veterans
Above: Ashley Cromar, a British Army veteran, embarking on a new challenge at Leonardo.
Courtesy Leonardo
Ex-military service personnel are the focus for the new scheme, since they offer excellent transferrable skills that are a good fit for Leonardo.
LEAP is an innovative new programme developed by a partnership – comprising Matchtech, the School of Systems Engineering (SOSE) and Innexia – that will provide specialist support and skills programmes to put veterans on a fast track to becoming systems engineers. Matchtech will deliver talent sourcing and programme management services, SOSE will provide applied technical engineering training for new systems engineers, and Innexia will give new recruits the soft skills to help them integrate into a new working culture.
The scheme’s first recruits started work as trainee systems engineers at Leonardo sites in Bristol, Southampton and Luton in September, with further cohorts planned in the future. Systems engineers are in high demand at Leonardo, since they are integral to many of the company’s large programmes such as Typhoon, Global Combat Air Programme and Falcon Shield. Systems engineering acts as the ‘glue’ that can pull together a complex network of capability. Typically, systems engineers produce system architectures that provide the framework for developing solutions, effectively creating the ‘nerve system’ of the technology.
Craig Drysdale, VP HR at Leonardo, said: “We’re very excited about this new partnership, as we have observed over the years that ex-service personnel bring a built-in understanding of the end-user perspective – something we’re passionate about as a company because our technology protects armed forces around the globe. They often demonstrate a deep commitment to delivery and a sense of ownership and responsibility, which means they follow through on projects. LEAP lets us address so many different dimensions of employee talent management and development within a short timeframe, so we anticipate that it will allow us to advance at a rapid pace while paying attention to quality training and support.”
LEAP has been meticulously co-created by all three partners including Aidan Wood, Defence and Security Director at Matchtech. Since his own father served in the Armed Forces, he feels a sense of personal investment in the new partnership.
“We provide the opportunity to reach the first rung of the ladder for a career as a systems engineer,” explained Aidan. “Without this scheme, many Armed Forces leavers would struggle to find an opportunity that could give them equivalent skills and employment within a manageable timeframe. The SOSE ‘nano degree’ is intensive and demanding but within a matter of weeks we can build people’s skills, enabling them to pivot to a new career in systems engineering that will be well remunerated and rewarding for many years.”
Upon completion of the two-year development programme, trainee systems engineers will have the opportunity to start a permanent full-time career at Leonardo.
Aidan added: “In recent years, demand has consistently exceeded supply, with over 20,000 vacancies advertised in the UK for systems engineers. The Leonardo partnership on the LEAP programme with partners Matchtech, SOSE and Innexia will address a growing skills gap in systems engineering whilst presenting a fast track into advanced engineering careers for our Armed Forces veterans.”
“We are very proud to work shoulder to shoulder with the Armed Forces and this new scheme provides us with a route to expand this partnership to benefit many ex-military personnel,” added Craig.
Investment in UK
Yesterday afternoon in a press conference, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, confirmed £485 million of investment into UK defence, clean growth and innovation by two major Italian companies - Leonardo and Marcegaglia - with Leonardo to invest £435 million in 2024, to be spent at their Yeovil site and in technology development and research programmes across the UK. It operates eight major sites in the UK, supporting 8,000 employees.
Stefano Pontecorvo, Chairman of Leonardo said: "It was a pleasure to meet with Prime Minister Starmer and discuss our new £435 million investment in the growth of Leonardo in the UK. This investment will support advanced research, thousands of highly skilled jobs and outstanding early careers opportunities at our eight UK sites as well as the resilience of our nationwide supply chain.
"It is clear that the Prime Minister represents a pronounced change in approach for the UK and its relationship with the European Union. Leonardo’s presence in the UK is underpinned by transnational collaboration at a governmental level, which also supports cooperation at an industrial level. I look forward to working closely with the Prime Minister as we continue to invest in the UK and support the defence of Europe."
Anyone interested in learning more about LEAP should contact Aidan.Wood@matchtech.com.
