Electronics Weekly Electronics Design & Components Tech News
Following a successful pilot programme, the company is scaling up the inititative to hire 25 “returners” before October.
Open to all, it presents a chance to move into a career with Leonardo in engineering roles spanning systems, software, electronics and projects. Candidates will be recruited for placements for six months of every year between April and October.
STEM Returners
We reported back in December 2021 that Hampshire-based company STEM Returners was partnering with the aerospace engineering firm to address the skills shortage in the UK engineering industry.
The fully paid placements aim to return or transfer experienced engineers back into industry following a career break, with roles at the business covering software, hardware, firmware and project engineering.
Specifically, Leonardo launched a new 12-week returners’ programme at its Basildon and Luton sites, building on their existing programmes in Southampton, Luton and Edinburgh.
Crossroads
The company highlighted, as an example, Dr Princess Udeze – pictured right – coming to a career crossroads: after a PhD in medical engineering at Queen Mary University of London, she worked in several roles at a company that sold medical equipment, but found that her job was going to be made redundant due to a lack of business caused by the pandemic.
STEM Returners got in touch and asked her to consider applying for a role as a Systems Engineer at aerospace engineering company Leonardo in Luton, which she did successfully.
“Get rid of the fear and just dive in,” Dr Udeze urged other women considering a return to engineering. “Never in my wildest imagination did I think I would work in aerospace engineering. Every day for me seems to be new and that is the reason I enjoy it. Be prepared to learn and put in the time to research the new field you are working in, because that will help you to piece it all together in your mind.”
“I realise now that my background in research for my degree and my PhD has been vital, as if I don’t know something I know how to ask for help or look for the information. The computer modelling I did at university has also been another useful skill I have been able to transfer.”
She is now thriving, says Leonardo, on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) project, which is led by the UK, Italy and Japan to create a next generation combat aircraft by 2035.
“We want to remove the barriers as we need a diversity of talent to power our technology,” said Rachel Ruxton, Head of Inclusion and Diversity at Leonardo UK. “Princess is working on capability that will contribute to a highly advanced future combat air programme and her transferrable skills will enrich this new innovation, as she will be able to introduce totally different approaches we may not have considered had we not identified someone from outside our industry.”
“That is what will give our technology a real edge when we are building for the future. I am so heartened to hear that she has felt welcomed and valued in her new team and as engineering is an endlessly fascinating field, we look forward to her career growing for many years at Leonardo.”
You can view STEM Returners availabilities with Leonardo here.
