What is your current role?
I am currently a 4th-year Business Graduate Apprentice at Leonardo in Edinburgh. This is a specialised programme where I work as a Project Controller while studying for a BA (Hons) in Business Management at the University of Strathclyde.
In my Project Controller role, I’m responsible for maintaining schedules and project plans within my area. Throughout my apprenticeship, I’ve had the opportunity to rotate through a variety of teams across Leonardo, and I am now settled in my final placement within our Radar & Advanced Targeting line of the business.
For my dissertation, I have chosen to explore employee responses to change management within the organisation. This project has allowed me to interview colleagues from across all Leonardo sites and build connections I might not have made in my day-to-day role. It has been one of my favourite aspects of the graduate apprenticeship programme, as it brings together academic theory and real workplace experience, helping me get more value from both.
Why did you decide to become an apprentice?
During my 5th year of high school, I realised that the opportunities for subjects that I was interested in, like economics and business were relatively limited in 6th year. I met with my school’s career advisor who suggested that I explore other opportunities that would allow me to continue my academic journey whilst gaining industry work experience. I had heard of Leonardo before, due to its rich history in the local community, and after researching the options, I settled on applying. Initially, I was interested in pursuing both Engineering and Business apprenticeship career routes, so I opted for the Business role in an Engineering sector - which I felt was a good balance of my interests and strengths.
What does a typical day look like in your role?
Alongside my morning coffee, I check my emails and calendar to get a clear overview of my day and identify any meetings I need to prepare for. I then catch up with my manager to discuss the progress of any re‑work on our plans, schedule my projects, and review their status. This helps me spot any potential issues early and raise them with the project team.
I usually attend several meetings with my Integrated Project Team (IPT), working with them to update plans based on current project progress. I also take part in Project Controls team meetings, which give me the chance to ask questions and collaborate on solutions to any department‑specific challenges.
Another part of my role involves building prospect plans to ensure we are capturing future work and planning recruitment accordingly. At the moment, most of my time is focused on building and managing our UK series production contract, which was announced in January. Although it is a significant undertaking, it has been an incredible opportunity to develop my technical skills and learn how to manage a different type of plan.
What is your greatest achievement at Leonardo so far?
Starting my professional development through the apprenticeship at 16 was, initially, a daunting experience. However, with the help of my fellow apprentices and placement managers I became a more confident employee and was able to ask questions and take on further responsibility that was outside of my comfort zone previously.
During my time at Leonardo, I have been heavily involved in STEM outreach, and I felt incredibly proud when two other apprentices and I first trialled the STEM activities we designed at an on‑site school event. Raising awareness of the importance of STEM subjects and giving back to the local community is something I care deeply about, so seeing an idea we created and championed come to life was extremely rewarding.
More recently, I was involved in hosting the Secretary of State for Defence, The Rt Hon John Healey, during his visit to our Edinburgh site. It was a fantastic opportunity to engage with people who are genuinely invested in the work we do at Leonardo. Experiences like this are the kind I would have been thrilled to imagine as a first‑year apprentice, and they make me incredibly proud to be part of a project that is having such a positive impact across the UK.
Are there any hobbies/activities you take part in outside of your apprenticeship?
Outside of work, I enjoy winding down with a good book, both fiction and non‑fiction, to relax after a busy day of meetings. I also love spending my evenings and weekends cooking for friends and family, especially when I get the chance to try new recipes and experiment with different cuisines. On my days off, you can often find me at a concert or travelling to visit my family!
What are your aspirations for the future?
As I move through my final year of university, my short‑term priority is to achieve a strong mark on my dissertation and graduate at the end of the year. Looking ahead, I want to continue developing my skills as a Project Controller as our series production contract grows, and work closely with colleagues to support this. In the longer term, I would love to experience the Leonardo world outside of Edinburgh, so I’m interested in exploring opportunities at our other sites or even trying out a new role.
Would you recommend an apprenticeship, and why?
I have, and I would absolutely recommend an apprenticeship as an alternative to the traditional route into employment. Apprenticeships offer people at all levels the unique opportunity to gain an academic qualification while building real work experience and developing both personal and professional skills. Earning a salary while you learn is a huge advantage, but my favourite benefit is getting ahead of the curve and avoiding the rush of applying for graduate schemes, especially if you’re studying a popular university course.
Many of my friends are currently searching for internships and graduate opportunities, and I’m really grateful that I won’t have to face that same pressure over the summer after university.
