In October, a team of Leonardo colleagues based at our Bristol site developed an innovative way to highlight cyber risks, using Lego, as part of Cyber Security Awareness month. Coined ‘Project Brick’, the five-strong team created an interactive Lego model to illustrate the inherent vulnerabilities associated with operational technology on military platforms and their potential impact.
Later in the month, Ministry of Defence (MOD) Director of Cyber Defence & Risk, Christine Maxwell, spoke to our Cyber & Security Solutions CTO, Max Wigley, to discuss the concept of Secure by Design and its importance to both industry and MOD.
There was cause for celebration in October, as it was announced that our engineers in Edinburgh had created a fully automated end-to-end fighter jet radar array test facility, in what was believed to be a world first for industry. This was in the same month that Leonardo supported the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Radar Conference. Led by the Conference Chair, Dr Iain Scott, Leonardo Vice President Capability & CTO for Radar, our speakers presented on a variety of topics related to our radar technology. With the event taking place in Edinburgh, we welcomed delegates to our Centre of Excellence for radar technology in the city where we have 75 years of heritage.
On World Mental Health Day (8 October), we published an article highlighting the importance of mental wellbeing and why Leonardo is co-sponsoring the Royal Air Forces Association’s (RAFA) ‘Finding it Tough?’ campaign, which offers free training for non-serving members of the RAF community – namely veterans, families and the supporting community. In the same week, we were proud to be listed in Glassdoor's Top 20 UK Companies for Work-Life Balance in 2022 due to positive feedback from colleagues who enjoy and benefit from our approach to work-life balance, which we believe is key to wellbeing at work and home.
On Ada Lovelace Day (11 October), which celebrates the achievements of women in all fields of STEM, we shone a spotlight on some of the female Flight Test Engineers (FTE) who have recently seen their careers take flight at the Home of British Helicopters, in Yeovil. We welcomed new trainee FTE, Kealey, who progressed through to Phase 2 in qualifying as professional aircrew, which includes operating in the cockpit of our AW101 helicopter, and then in the cabin and cockpit of other Leonardo helicopters. She joins Leonardo colleagues Ben and Josh who passed their qualifications earlier in the year.
As part of Black History Month, which is marked annually throughout October, Aston Pryce, Head of Bids at Leonardo’s site in Luton, gave a powerful account of the racism he has faced during his career, explaining how such adversity has shaped his professional and personal priorities. Later in the month, members of our Ethnicity Inclusion Network Group joined the Chief of the Air Staff at the RAF’s Ethnic Minorities Network Conference to discuss the positive steps being taken across our sector.
We also learnt that Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters had carried up to 20 missiles for the first time, and the final construction of the Single-Site Logistics Hub’s structure and flooring at our Yeovil site was celebrated with the industrial partners’ next-generation workforce cementing their handprints into the floor.