Leonardo and RAF embark on pioneering joint mentoring programme

27 September 2024

Leonardo and the Royal Air Force (RAF) are driving greater inclusion in the defence sector, through a pioneering new mentoring programme.

The Ascend programme will match mentors from the Leonardo Armed Forces Network with serving RAF Personnel belonging to the RAF Ethnic Minorities Network over six months. During this period, mentees will receive one-to-one mentoring that will be tailored to fit each participant’s individual needs and future aspirations.

Beyond this coaching, great emphasis will be placed on creating a safe space where insights and experiences can be exchanged between mentor and mentee in an atmosphere of frankness and transparency. These will act as points of reflection to identify opportunities to spark new collaborations within both organisations.

Leonardo UK Head of Inclusion and Diversity, Rachel Ruxton, said: “The RAF is a long-term partner of ours, and we are both facing similar challenges regarding increasing diversity across Defence. Working together, we created Ascend, and I was pleased to see seven former members of the RAF be the first to volunteer as mentors and to support the development of members of the RAF Ethnic Minorities Network. It was gratifying for me to see my colleagues demonstrate so much enthusiasm for this new programme, to draw on experiences that will help shape our inclusive culture.

“There are so many different dimensions of identity and experience that are not isolated from one another, but rather intertwine and overlap in intricate ways to affect our daily lives. The Ascend programme will allow us to explore this aspect in more depth and I’m really encouraged by the feedback we’ve had so far on the programme from all those participating.”

Mentoring is an established priority across Leonardo UK’s Inclusion and Diversity Strategy, and the launch of Ascend complements a range of programmes already live, including Women in Defence mentoring, programmes with Association of Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers, as well as an internal mentoring matching tool.

Squadron Leader Micah Aopare, Chair of RAF Ethnic Minorities Network (pictured right), said: “We are proud to be partnering with Leonardo on the ground-breaking Ascend programme, which marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to foster inclusion within the Royal Air Force. This initiative provides a unique opportunity for our personnel, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, to access tailored mentoring and coaching that can significantly enhance both their personal and professional development. However, beyond the one-to-one mentoring, Ascend is more than just career progression—it is about creating an open and honest dialogue where experiences, insights, and ideas can be shared in a truly transparent and supportive environment.

“By working together with our partners at Leonardo, we aim to build stronger ties, challenge existing norms, and spark new, innovative approaches to inclusion within the RAF and across Defence. This programme reflects the RAF’s broader commitment to ensuring that all our personnel, regardless of background, are given the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential. We believe that by embracing a range of perspectives and experiences, we not only enrich our community, but also strengthen our operational effectiveness.”

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Armed Forces Network Group

Leonardo's Armed Forces network group connects and supports our veterans, reservists and military family colleagues and communities. Additionally, it assists new employees as they transition from military to civilian life.

For the wider Leonardo UK business, the group helps enhance our collective sense of pride in being part of UK and allied defence, through sharing stories from our veterans, reservists and military families.

More about the Armed Forces Network Group

Transition from military service

Leonardo’s commitment to the Armed Forces Community is pledged through our support of the Armed Forces Covenant, while we have been awarded the UK MoD’s Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award.

We understand that the transition from military service to civilian life can be a major challenge for some people. To address this, we work with the Career Transition Partnership to provide initial and ongoing support.

We also have a dedicated Armed Forces Network Group which supports Leonardo UK Armed Forces veterans, reservists and spouses or partners of serving members.

Developing your career

Leonardo’s growth in the UK has resulted from the skills, energy and dedication of our people. We are committed to equal opportunity and offering personal fulfilment through the highest quality education and development.

Looking to the future, we want reinforce our competitive position in the UK and other markets. To meet this challenge, we offer an environment for qualified people with the will to succeed and a passion for excellence to fulfil their potential and enable our company to stay at the forefront of innovation and technology.

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At Leonardo, we believe that our employees work best when they are able to achieve balance between work and other aspects of life. That’s why we are committed to designing policies and developing a working environment that promote the benefits and wellbeing of all our employees.

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When we invite you for an interview, we want to hear about you; your achievements and what you can bring. By thinking about the role you are applying for, align your skills and experience to it. Make it easy for the Hiring Manager to decide you are the best candidate they can select for the role.

When preparing for your interview, review the company website and enhance your knowledge as much as possible, such as where Leonardo is present, who our customers are, and what is important to us i.e. sustainability, corporate social responsibility. Look at our mission and values and consider how your own values align to us. Read some of our employee profiles, speak to anyone you know who works for us, and follow us on social media.

We carry out Competency Based Interviews (CBI). To help you prepare, we suggest you make yourself aware of the BACK model:

  • Background – What was the situation and what was your goal?
  • Action – What action did you take?
  • Consequence – What was the outcome / end result?
  • Knowledge – What feedback was received? / How was the success measured? What did you learn from this experience? / Is there anything you would have done differently?
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