After finding traditional hiring methods insufficient to meet demand, Leonardo sought a new approach — one that would deliver high-performing teams while also creating positive social impact.
In partnership with WithYouWithMe (WYWM), Leonardo implemented a skills-based talent strategy within its UK Cyber and Security Solutions business.
Together, they defined key roles based on skills and competencies rather than job titles or traditional qualifications. This approach enabled Leonardo to focus on current capability and future potential — widening access to talent from non-traditional backgrounds.
Through WYWM’s train, hire and deploy model, Leonardo was able to identify high-potential individuals from underrepresented talent pools, including military veterans and career changers, and prepare them for cyber security roles through targeted training.
In 2022, Leonardo pledged to join 15,000 Futures Initiative, supporting digital career opportunities for Armed Forces veterans and their families — aligning closely with WYWM’s mission.
Leonardo identified five key cyber roles suitable for deployment through WYWM’s squad model.
Under this model, individuals are trained and deployed into real roles within the organisation, typically transitioning into permanent positions after an initial deployment period.
Following role definition and culture-fit alignment, Leonardo and WYWM hosted a Job Accelerator event to introduce the opportunity to qualified candidates. Selected individuals completed GCHQ-accredited cyber training before deployment.
Leonardo’s UK Head of HR, Dean Fortt, said the partnership enabled more equitable hiring practices that prioritised aptitude, culture fit and potential — not just experience.
The Greenbeam platform formalises and digitalises the approach we have been taking over recent years with the added benefit of directly sourcing diverse candidates from under-represented, and largely untapped, talent pools. The whole approach runs a thread through our talent and attraction, L&D, inclusion and diversity and social value objectives.
“As well as needing to source diverse talent for our own business, the UK Government’s ‘2022 cyber security skills in the UK labour market’ report shows there is a critical lack of cyber skills within the industry, a gap which is growing year-on-year. As a business, we have an obligation to look at ways in which we can help,” said Mr Fortt.
Within six months, a five-person squad was deployed into Leonardo including veterans of the British Armed Forces and former Metropolitan Police Officers. Despite not having traditional qualifications or backgrounds in cyber security, the squad members were fast learners, eager to make the most of the opportunity.
Leighton Gosai, a British Army veteran turned Senior Cyber Security Consultant is thankful for the learning experiences his role at Leonardo has provided.
“The level to which Leonardo invest in your training and development is incredible. It’s so refreshing to work for a company who recognise that the broader range of skills, knowledge and experience a person has, the more value they can bring to the company – and they act on that principle,” said Leighton.
The squad’s leader, Jason Stanley left a 17-year career in the Police to pursue the ever-changing world of cyber security.
“It’s a completely different lifestyle compared with the Police, challenging me in different ways and I get to work on some very interesting projects.”
“Cyber security is massively evolving. I’m looking forward to continuing this journey and seeing what the future holds. For the moment, I’m also trying to learn as much as possible,” said Jason.
Another squad member and former Police Officer, Laura McKeeman, is ecstatic about the opportunity to enter a role in cyber security and is hoping to inspire other women to do the same.
“I am striving to succeed in this new career, both for my own development and to show other women that there is more than enough room in the tech sector for us all,” said Laura.
After seeing the success of squad members already in action, Leonardo hope to leverage their new skills framework to create more streamlined pathways for more diverse talent to join the organisation and help improve mobility across teams with continuous learning. Leonardo is looking to place additional squads across multiple lines of business within the UK, widening opportunities to include new engineering and cyber security related disciplines.
Mr Fortt said, “The squad of five cyber consultants we have deployed currently, have embedded themselves as valued contributing members of the consulting practice. They are fantastic ambassadors for both Leonardo and WithYouWithMe and we expect this trend to continue as we start to deploy additional squads.”
As an organisation eager to provide services of the highest quality while also delivering a positive social impact, Leonardo is happy to see their workforce becoming more inclusive. Across all areas of its business, Leonardo recognises that having diverse talent doesn’t only mean more positive working environment, but also enables a higher level of creativity and strategic problem-solving to help them stay ahead of evolving threats.
Is your organisation eager to enhance your cyber security capability with diverse digital talent? Get in touch today.
