Work Experience

Do you have a passion for engineering? Leonardo’s work experience programmes offer a range of activities for students at our sites across the UK.

Our programmes provide an invaluable insight into the varied career options that can be explored from studying STEM-related subjects.

From a day’s overview of the company, to a week exploring the diversity of engineering, we want to challenge your perceptions about the working environment, show you how working as a team to meet a challenge can be fun, and help you discover your potential.

To find out more about all our latest work experience opportunities across the UK, click on the tabs below.

(For those looking for industrial internships or summer placements to complement degree level education, please visit the relevant pages.)

Occasionally we have non-STEM-related work experience available with our site support functions. Please check the tabs below for opportunities at each site.

Yeovil

Are you interested in spending a week at the UK’s only onshore helicopter manufacturer in Yeovil.

Applications for Leonardo’s 2024 summer work experience programme in Yeovil are now closed. At a later date, they will reopen for future programmes.

There is no requirement to include predicted or achieved grades; we want to make the programme as inclusive and accessible as possible. Therefore, this application is open to anyone aged 14-16 with a strong interest in gaining valuable experience in the aerospace industry, at the Home of British Helicopters – Leonardo in Yeovil.

We offer a unique opportunity for both GCSE and A-Level students with an interest in science, engineering and/or business to gain an insight into all the skills needed for the design and build of helicopters.

Our week-long work experience programme consists of a mixture of practical and theoretical activities which are designed to give you an overall understanding of both engineering and business skills.

Previous participants have loved the week. Here’s what some of them have said:

“It has been very informative and good fun at the same time.”

“It has made me want to further pursue a career in aviation.”

“A really interesting week, where I learnt about a range of things I wasn’t fully aware of.”

“It has helped me learn about different types of engineering.”

“A very fun and enjoyable week, I would recommend it to anyone.”

The week will be full of fun and informative activities aimed to challenge and inspire you.

Luton

At our Electronic Warfare centre of excellence in Luton, we offer week-long, work experience placements for GCSE and A-Level students who show an interest and an aptitude in science and engineering.

Applications for Leonardo’s 2024 summer work experience programme in Luton are now closed. At a later date, they will reopen for future programmes.

The work experience programme is not only aimed to challenge and inspire you, but it also looks great on your CV, as well as an opportunity to make an impression within the company.

Successful applicants will undertake a series of inter-linked projects that challenge students to design, build and test an electronic product to meet a set of customer requirements. This allows students to experience the processes involved in engineering, tailored to suit their current level of study, and resulting in the creation of a product that they can take home!

Through this integrated programme, we’ve made work experience more engaging, interesting and have been able to demonstrate the breadth and depth of exciting engineering going on at our company. But don’t take our word for it… here is what some of our previous students have said:

“I could not have asked for a more enjoyable and enlightening week.”

“Each day presented us with real tasks and objectives.”

“I found it a really great opportunity to find out the different types of jobs people with engineering degrees can go into.”

To apply for work experience at Luton, please send your CV and cover letter/email to engineering.thefuture@leonardo.com.

If you are interested in taking up a work experience opportunity with Leonardo, the best approach is to speak directly with your school or college, who will then be able to connect with one of our STEM ambassadors via email.

Basildon

In Basildon, Leonardo offers a week-long work experience placement for GCSE and A-Level students (Years 10 to 12) students who show an interest and an aptitude in science and engineering.

Applications for our 2024 work experience programmes in Basildon are now closed. At a later date, they will reopen for future programmes.

Through a range of STEM activities, students are given the opportunity to see and experience a number of different engineering departments, gaining a wide understanding of the engineering and manufacturing processes that are used on site.

The placements also enable students to gain an insight into the Basildon site’s expertise in thermal imaging systems, radar systems, radio communications and infrared detection.

Successful applicants will join a team to undertake a project that challenges students to design, build and test a machine to meet a set of requirements. This allows students to experience the processes involved in engineering, resulting in their very own product! All whilst competing against teams at our Southampton site.

Some of our previous work placement participants commented:

“Each detail of your company was fascinating and you are privileged to work in such a place.”

“You did an exceptional job of it and we all thoroughly enjoyed every day of it.”

“I would love to apply at some point in the future for an apprenticeship.”

If you are interested in applying, please complete the application form (below) and email it to workexperiencebas@leonardo.com. Your application will then be reviewed and we will contact you to inform you of the outcome of your application.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Basildon site.

Edinburgh

The Edinburgh site has a long tradition of creating the right environment to let talent thrive and grow – in fact some of our former Apprentices have gone on to become senior business leaders within our organisation. Our Edinburgh site has received the Investors in People Silver standard and Investors in Young People Gold Award, due to its ongoing investment in the next generation of talent.

It is our apprentices themselves who have created the Edinburgh site’s immersive work experience programme based on detailed feedback they received from young people on what they’d like to experience.

  • Would you like to know what it is like to be a business manager, working in a real business for a week with targets, challenges and goals?
  • Would you be up to the challenge of taking on a project, then reporting your progress at the end of the week to senior managers?

Our Edinburgh work experience programme offers you a fun, exciting challenge that will leave you with hands-on experience of working on a real project that allows you to develop your skills.

Each school student who joins our work experience programme is assigned a special role which they take charge of over the week, while receiving support and encouragement from our team of Apprentices and Graduates. We offer a practical activity packed week, which will raise your awareness of all the different types of jobs there are in a hi-tech engineering company like Leonardo. You’ll learn how to use detail drawings, 3D modelling and 3D printing processes and we’ll give you an overview of our technology to bring the world of engineering to life so you can see how it is applied in the real world.

At the end of the week, you will be asked to deliver a group presentation to a panel of senior Leonardo managers on your project. Feedback from previous participants confirms that our programme is not only a fun roller coaster ride of technology and knowledge, with the chance to work as part of a team, but that you also get the chance to build your professional presentations skills in a real work environment.

Applications for our work experience programmes in Edinburgh are now closed. At a later date, they will reopen for future programmes.

Southampton

In Southampton, Leonardo offers a week-long work experience placement for GCSE and A-Level students (Years 10 to 12) students who show an interest and an aptitude in science and engineering.

Applications for our work experience programmes in Southampton are now closed. At a later date, they will reopen for future programmes.

Through a range of STEM activities, students are given the opportunity to see and experience a number of different engineering departments, gaining a wide understanding of the engineering and manufacturing processes that are used on site.

The placements also enable students to gain an insight into the Southampton site’s expertise in infra-red detectors, thermal imaging solutions, communication systems and air traffic control systems, which have been developed since the 1950s.

Successful applicants will join a team to undertake a project that challenge students to design, build and test a machine to meet a set of requirements. This allows students to experience the processes involved in engineering, resulting in their very own product! All whilst competing against teams at our Basildon site.

Some of our previous work placement participants commented:

  • “Each detail of your company was fascinating and you are privileged to work in such a place.”
  • “You did an exceptional job of it and we all thoroughly enjoyed every day of it.”
  • “I would love to apply at some point in the future for an apprenticeship.”

If you are interested in applying, please complete the application form (below) and email it to workexperiencesoton@leonardo.com. Your application will then be reviewed and we will contact you to inform you of the outcome of your application.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Southampton site.

Early Career Opportunities within Leonardo

Early Career Opportunities within Leonardo

Download our Early Careers brochure for information about Leonardo's UK apprenticeships, graduate programme, industrial placements, summer placements and work experience opportunities.