The Prime Minister was visiting Leonardo’s Electronic Warfare centre of excellence in Luton to see first-hand the expertise that goes into manufacturing behind ‘BriteStorm’ – a new payload for the Royal Air Force’s game-changing ‘StormShroud’ autonomous collaborative platform (ACP).
Able to confuse and suppress enemy radars during air combat missions, BriteStorm provides a new way for UK Armed Forces to deal with increasingly capable air defence systems.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Richard Knighton, Leonardo UK Chair & CEO, Clive Higgins, and UK Managing Director for Leonardo’s Electronics business, Mark Hamilton, was shown around the site by Senior Systems Technician, Elin Esnard.
Elin – an award-winning ex-apprentice – first experienced life at Leonardo through a week’s work experience in her sixth form summer break. While studying for her A-Levels, Elin was formally diagnosed as having dyslexia which contributed to the growing stress she was experiencing during her further education.
“After my A-levels, I knew university wasn’t for me. However, I still dreamt of becoming an engineer, but I had no idea how I was going to do it. After spending a couple of years working, I started to look into apprenticeships and found Leonardo again. Their apprenticeships almost seemed too good to be true. I would go to college one day a week to get professional qualifications, and I would be applying everything I learnt to the work in my role.”
Elin was able to share her path to engineering while hosting the Prime Minister, in addition to providing an insight into her work at Leonardo.
“I had the privilege of welcoming the Prime Minister to the site, giving him a tour of our facilities, introducing him to my amazing team, and – most unexpectedly – presenting him live on national TV! It was an unforgettable experience from start to finish.
“It was amazing to hear Sir Keir place such importance on apprenticeships and his aspirations for his son to undertake one.”
Ex-apprentice now Principal Antenna Engineer, Luke, also met the Prime Minister and provided an insight into the sensor testing facilities available at the site. He said: “It was a real privilege and honour to take the Prime Minister on a tour of our anechoic chamber. I had the chance to talk about the importance of defence engineering in the UK, and the number of highly skilled apprentices on our site that support those contracts.”
While hearing about the site’s expertise in avionic sensors technology, the Prime Minister learned more about Leonardo’s contribution to the UK’s Future Combat Air System capability being delivered as part of Team Tempest. Members of the Tempest Early Careers Network (TECN) – Oliver, Georgiana and Harrison – explained the importance of Integrated Sensing and Non-Kinetic Effects (ISANKE) and Integrated Communications Systems (ICS) within a data-congested digital battlespace, through the company’s ISANKE interactive display table.
Project Leader, Georgiana, who joined the company through one of Leonardo’s graduate schemes said: “One of my favourite things about working at Leonardo is that no two weeks are ever the same!
Oliver, a Systems Engineering Degree Apprentice on the programme, who was also on hand to present to the Prime Minister, added: “Hearing him stress the significance of our work to UK security, and the importance of early career involvement, was a firm reminder of why I love what I do!”
Systems Engineering Apprentice, Harrison, was also delighted to have the chance to present to the VIPs. “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to deliver the presentation with Georgiana and Oliver. It was great to hear the Prime Minister give his thoughts on apprenticeships and emphasise the importance of our work to UK security,” he said.
Following the tour, Elin was asked to introduce the Prime Minister to Leonardo’s Luton employees. Addressing the site’s 1,000 employees, the Prime Minister spoke of his excitement to learn about the work being carried out at Leonardo and reiterated the importance of this in securing the nation.
Recalling his recent trip to the UK’s Carrier Strike Group, he said: “I hope you feel like you are serving your country…because without you doing what you do, in the way you do it, they wouldn't be able to do what they do.”
Before leaving, Sir Keir answered questions from Leonardo employees such as Business Degree Apprentice, Sadie.
“It was an incredible experience to meet the Prime Minister and have the opportunity to ask him a question on a topic I am really passionate about,” she said.
“I shared how my career has been transformed by my apprenticeship and asked what the government can do to encourage the education system in equipping young people with the skills and knowledge necessary in our high-tech industry.
“From working in the defence industry in the last eight months, I have seen first-hand the importance of the work done at Leonardo – something I never really understood before joining the company – whether it’s protecting national security to driving innovation in technology. It is an industry that offers so many opportunities for the next generation.
“Sir Kier reinforced my strong opinions and encouraged us all as apprentices to share our experiences and promote the many apprenticeships opportunities to schools.
“So, just as our Prime Minister says, my message to everyone considering their next steps after school is don’t be afraid to explore all your options. An apprenticeship might be the best decision you ever make, just as it has been for me.”
Following his visit, the Prime Minister used his social media channels to further stress the value of apprenticeships: “My dad did an apprenticeship, and I know how transformative they can be for young people. I’m determined that apprentices like Sadie get the opportunities they need to build careers in the industries of the future, like defence.”
Speaking after the visit, Mark Hamilton, UK Managing Director for Leonardo’s Electronics business, said: "We are extremely grateful to the Prime Minister and the Chief of the Air Staff for visiting Leonardo and spending so much time with our apprentices and young professionals who were so enthusiastic to share their stories and the pride they feel working for a company that is making a real difference to our national security.
"The Britestorm Stand-in Jammer that will equip the new Royal Air Force fleet of 'StormShroud' AR3 Uncrewed Air Systems is a perfect example of the capability developed by the electronic warfare experts based at our Luton site. The payload is the latest world-leading capability developed by Leonardo in the UK that is making a vital contribution to those who serve their country and keep us safe."