Leonardo opens its eighth UK location, a facility dedicated to scientific and engineering innovation within the Newcastle Helix technology hub.
The new center will be focused on research, development and prototyping of the next generation of sensing, safety and vertical flight products, most of which will incorporate emerging digital technologies. The site will be connected, via a secure cloud, to Leonardo's other scientific research and production centers in the UK and will be part of the company's national network of data-driven engineering projects.
Today's inauguration ceremony was attended by local, government institutions and industry representatives; These include Veronica Dunn, Mayor of Newcastle, The Honorable Justine Greening, Chair of the Purpose Coalition, Stephen Phipson CBE, Executive Director of Make UK and Paul Watson, Director of the National Innovation Center for Data and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Newcastle.
Clive Higgins, President and CEO of Leonardo UK, commented: “What sets Leonardo apart from many other global companies with a presence in the UK is the research, engineering and advanced manufacturing carried out in Britain. With the opening of the based in Newcastle we will be able to hire young talent from the North East, to work on some of the most interesting and cutting-edge technological projects in the UK. We are here with the aim of building strong, long-term links with the local area and the community, in line with what Leonardo already does at other sites in the country".
Known above all for the production of military helicopters and for sensors on board Royal Air Force aircraft, Leonardo has 8.500 employees in the United Kingdom and is one of the major partners of the Ministry of Defence. The company has a central role in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) - the initiative of the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan to develop a new sixth generation combat system that will enter service in 2035 - as well as being engaged by some decades in cyber security activities to protect the nation's most sensitive information.
In Newcastle, as well as providing services to its customers, Leonardo aims to engage regional SMEs, charities, social mobility programmes, schools and academia, replicating the model followed in other UK cities, from Yeovil in the South West to Edinburgh in Scotland.
The Honorable Justine Greening, president of the Purpose Coalition, spoke about the positive effect on social mobility that can be generated by companies like Leonardo, declaring: "Engineering is a field with one of the lowest levels of gender diversity and mobility However, Leonardo is an extraordinary example of how a company can drive change both internally and in the communities it operates in. By investing in Newcastle, Leonardo is bringing high-value jobs and skills to one of the most deprived areas of the United Kingdom, offering opportunities at all levels. In return, it will have access to a pipeline of talent that will allow it to continue to innovate, grow and build for the future."
Leonardo is one of the founding members of the newly established “North East Regional Defense and Security Cluster” (NERDSC), which aims to promote further investments in the region and support those already present to guarantee returns in the defense and security sector .
Jennifer Hartley, Invest Newcastle director of the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, said: “The opening of Leonardo's site in Newcastle is a major milestone in a major strategic investment for the North East of England. Following the launch of the NERDSC , we look forward to working closely with Leonardo to grow the region's defense and aerospace sector and provide valuable new opportunities for our residents."
Leonardo continues to recruit staff from Newcastle and across the North East. The site will accommodate at least 200 staff and the company is looking to grow further in the future. In addition to hiring already highly qualified people, Leonardo will invest in professional development, training employees in the latest digital engineering practices to ensure they are ready to face the "fourth industrial revolution".
Stephen Phipson CBE, Chief Executive of Make UK, said: “Leonardo is an example of a large manufacturing company capable of generating valuable intellectual property and exporting its products and services around the world. The company is investing substantially in evolution of the UK manufacturing industry through the shift to digital and data-driven engineering, which will provide a competitive advantage in international markets and ensure the retention of critical skills in the UK."
Leonardo also continues to expand the number of career opportunities for younger people, thanks above all to the company's central position in the GCAP project. A further 300 apprentices, trainees and graduates are expected to be recruited in 2023, bringing the total number of young people taking part in vocational training programs to 900.
