August was dominated by stories focused on the national debate about the 2020 exam results. It was during this month that we published results highlighted the growing popularity of Leonardo’s early career opportunities with the company seeing a 39% increase in applications for its UK graduate and industrial placement roles, and a 100% increase for its apprenticeship programme! 

This rise in applications further reinforced our commitment to early careers, with graduates currently representing 5.91% of their engineering workforce, exceeding the target of the Five Percent Club, of which the company is a member. Applications for our 2021 vacancies look to be strong already, and you can find more information on how to apply.

Also in August, the Australian Government announced a $1.35 billion investment to enhance its nation’s cyber security and increase its resilience to future attacks. The announcement reflected the scope of the School of Information Operations (SOIO) a new facility focused on supporting Australia’s converging of electronic warfare and cyber capabilities combining land, sea, air, cyber and space. Through the Cyber Electro-Magnetic Activities (CEMA) expertise of the company’s Training Academy in Lincoln, Leonardo is working with Australian company DEWC, an organisation staffed entirely by former military electronic warfare and cyber practitioners, to support SOIO’s delivery of cyber defence capabilities to the Australia Defence Force.

Later in the month, as part of our commitment to promoting the benefits and opportunities of an engineering career to young women, three of Leonardo’s UK engineering role models took part in the Aerospace Panel at the 2020 Stemettes Virtual Summer Camp. Our inspiring women engineers shared insights about their respective careers and interests, and answered questions about pursuing a career in the aerospace sector to around 200 girls aged 11-15 during the online event.