Measurable Progress
A detailed analysis of our 2025 data reveals an overall 10.58% reduction in our gender pay gap since our first UK report in 2017. Our 2025 (mean) pay gap has reduced to 7.90%, a reduction of 1.89% since 2024, with the median pay gap also reducing to 8.52%, a reduction of 1.32%.
Investment in Talent
Our achievements to date demonstrate a long-term strategy to increase female representation across our business. Through the success of our Springboard programme, which has now empowered over 250 women within the UK, alongside our participation in the ‘Women in Defence Mentoring’ programme, we are purposefully seeking to dismantle the barriers that have historically limited career progression in our sector. Recognising that meaningful change needs to extend well beyond the workplace, we strengthened our outreach and early careers engagement in 2025, contributing to a 3% increase in women joining our UK early careers programmes and earning recognition such as the inaugural Future Leaders: Empowering Girls in STEM award. By investing in the next generation of engineers and leaders today, we are ensuring that Leonardo remains a welcoming and inclusive destination for the skills and innovation that will be necessary for the future of the UK's prosperity.
A Culture of Respect
Recruiting in the defence sector remains challenging due to the high demand for specialist skills. We’re continuing to broaden our talent pipelines and listen carefully to colleague feedback.
Creating a truly inclusive culture goes beyond improving numbers; it requires a consistent commitment to ensuring everyone feels safe, respected and valued at work. This has been reflected in recent recognition in 2026, including being named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work and receiving a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, both based on direct employee feedback about their experience.
Leonardo remains committed to building an environment where everyone feels supported to deliver the critical work our nation depends on.