As a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (iMechE), Leonardo is proud to sponsor and participate in annual STEM-focused events organised by the Institution. The competitions aim to develop and inspire the next generation of professional engineers.
UAS Challenge
iMechE’s Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Challenge, sponsored by Leonardo, showcases undergraduate engineering talent across the world, with teams undertaking a full design and build cycle of a UAS with a maximum take-off mass of 10kg. During the competition, the UAS must operate automatically, performing a series of tasks such as area search, navigating waypoints, accurately dropping an aid package and returning to base via a defined route.
As part of the UAS Challenge, STEM ambassadors from Leonardo’s UK helicopter business act as mentors for the young engineers taking part.
Apprentice Automation Challenge
Leonardo regularly participates in the iMechE Apprentice Automation Challenge, which enables teams of talented apprentices to compete in an innovative design and manufacturing challenge to design, develop and build a fully working system that solves a real-world problem.
Each team must submit a report that includes a full design specification, manufacturing instructions, user manual and business case. The Challenge culminates in the finals at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, where teams demonstrate their working prototypes and answer questions from the judging panel.
Apprentices from across Leonardo’s Electronics business are actively encouraged to take part in this challenge, with Leonardo teams being back-to-back winners in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Skills Education
Skills Education
Leonardo is committed to maintaining its skilled workforce and recognises the national need to expand the UK’s pool of engineering resources. We operate a worldwide education programme aimed at encouraging young people throughout their academic careers to take an interest in science and technology.