Why did you join Leonardo?
After reading up about the Leonardo Apprenticeship, I felt it would give me the right mix of hands-on experience and academic learning. I liked the idea of finding out about technology on the job, then applying it in my studies. I hadn’t been exposed to engineering at school, so the opportunity to try different forms of engineering before making a final selection was a big draw for me as well. It has given me the chance to find out where my skills and passion lies.
Why was an apprenticeship the right path for you?
I seem to perform at my best when I get the chance to have direct experience of working with technology on a daily basis, so I can get involved in every element of its capability. This was a big one for me as I could have easily gone to university, studied for four years and ended up in a career that wasn’t necessarily suited to me. During my rotation, the apprenticeship gave me a taste of lots of different types of engineering, helping me develop a deeper understanding of the different areas of capability that wouldn’t have been possible through studies alone.
Tell us what you do in a typical day
I am responsible for coordinating and performing all Osprey system tests, including sell-offs, repairs, development and customer demonstrations. That involves managing our testing schedule, identifying requirements for repairs, looking at innovation and if the opportunity arises, talking to the customer about our technology.
What do enjoy most about your job?
The people! Since joining Leonardo, I’ve had so much encouragement from work colleagues and my managers, who have really taken the time to invest in my development as a professional. Amongst the apprentice community here at Leonardo, we all try to help each other as much as we can, as we genuinely want to see each other do well. I also love the challenge of describing technology to the customer, or a visiting MP or VIP, walking them through the capability then responding to any questions they may have.
