Creating tomorrow's Future Leaders

This year, 30 young women from schools across London took part in a six-month programme of learning and development activities designed to build confidence, resilience and workplace skills.

Sessions hosted by Leonardo employees at the company’s London and Luton sites gave participants the opportunity to meet engineers, apprentices, graduates and business professionals. Through practical activities and conversations with colleagues, they gained first-hand insight into careers across aerospace, defence and technology.

Delivered in partnership with Future Leaders – a social mobility organisation that supports young people into meaningful careers – the programme forms part of Leonardo’s wider commitment to inclusion, diversity and social mobility. It aims to make STEM careers more visible and accessible by connecting young women with industry role models and workplace experience.

The programme launched in 2024 and has continued to build on the progress of each cohort. In 2025, it received the Empowering Girls in STEM award in recognition of its impact.

Iain Bancroft, Senior Vice President, Electronic Warfare at Leonardo, said: “We have partnered with Future Leaders UK to create a sustainable and repeatable early talent pipeline for young women from underrepresented backgrounds. Since launching the partnership in 2024, it has been a pleasure to meet each of the three cohorts and witness their enthusiasm, ambition and potential first-hand. The programme combines immersive site visits, engagement with inspiring role models, hands-on STEM activities and tailored career coaching, all designed to broaden awareness of the diverse career opportunities available within the defence sector, while helping to strengthen Leonardo's future workforce.”

For former participant Idal Dogan, the programme provided a route into industry. Idal first encountered Leonardo through Future Leaders and is now an apprentice with the company. A visit to the Luton site gave her the opportunity to meet apprentices, learn more about the roles available and begin her own early careers journey with Leonardo.

Throughout the 2026 programme, Leonardo colleagues shared their experiences through workshops, mentoring and career insight sessions. Participants heard about different routes into engineering, technology and business, while having the opportunity to ask questions and consider where their own interests could take them.

As participants take their next steps in education and employment, Leonardo will continue working with Future Leaders to help more young people discover the opportunities available in STEM and build the skills they need for the future.