After finding traditional hiring methods insufficient to meet their requirements, Leonardo set about finding a new approach to fill digital gaps; one that would not only deliver a unique and high-performing team, but also create a positive social impact.
In partnership with WithYouWithMe (WYWM), Leonardo embarked on a programme to implement skills-based talent management. Their approach would see the UK Cyber and Security Solutions business aptitude tested and skills-mapped, and a taxonomy developed whereby roles across all levels could be defined by the skills and competencies they require.
This skills-first approach seeks to create an environment where Leonardo can view talent differently, focusing on current and potential skillsets, rather than relying on outmoded qualifications and previous job titles.
Through their work with WYWM, Leonardo also saw an opportunity to address cyber skills gaps, leveraging the WYWM Potential platform to find and hire talent from previously overlooked pools. Being heavily involved in the defence sector, they saw synergy in expanding their cyber security workforce alongside a company that supports military leavers – among other groups – into meaningful employment.
In 2022, Leonardo pledged to join 15,000 Futures Initiative that calls upon UK employers to provide digital career opportunities for Armed Forces veterans and their families.
Leonardo began by identifying five key roles within their cyber and security business that a ‘squad’ of individuals from WYWM’s talent pools could fill. Under the squad model, individuals are hired on a temporary-to-permanent basis, entering an organisation’s workforce for one year through WYWM before transitioning into permanent positions.
For every squad member hired, WYWM can fund another 10 individuals from underrepresented groups to be digitally trained, certified, and given access to meaningful career opportunities.
After identifying role requirements including aptitude, skills and culture-fit, Leonardo and WYWM hosted a ‘Job Accelerator’ event to connect directly with the Potential platform’s user community. Typically hosted online, Job Accelerators enable organisations to introduce themselves, outline their mission and provide in-depth information about the opportunities available, should people choose to join.
Following the event, a number of candidates expressed interest in Leonardo and proceeded to participate in culture-fit interviews. Those selected to join the cyber ‘squad’ completed WYWM’s GCHQ-accredited Cyber training courses before being deployed into the organisation.
Leonardo Cyber and Security UK Head of HR, Dean Fortt says working alongside WYWM, enables the organisation to implement more equitable hiring practices that consider culture and aptitude, rather than solely focusing on experience.
The WithYouWithMe Potential 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.
