Unlocking a cyber security degree apprenticeship with Leonardo
Matilda is a third-year cyber security degree apprentice at Leonardo. She talks to the Apprenticeship Guide about her experience:
“In September 2022 I started my career as a cyber security degree apprentice at Leonardo, and I am about to start my third year at the Bristol office. During school, I always had an interest in computers but felt like I couldn’t purse my passion as computer science was a neglected subject at my all-girls secondary school. I was one of few in my GCSE computer science class and found myself losing interest after a couple of months in.
My dad pushed me to keep going when I was ready to drop out of the GCSE and suggested I try a scheme called Cyber Discovery. The scheme showed me a very exciting side to topics I had previously thought were dull when learning them in the classroom and reignited my interest!
I moved schools to take my A-level in Computer Science. Over the school holidays, I used free courses available via Cyber First to expand my knowledge, which cemented my interest in following a career in cyber security.
Although I knew that I wanted to work in cyber security quite early on, I also knew I didn’t want to go to university. When my school ran a session about degree apprenticeships, I realised this was exactly what I wanted! A full degree (with no debt) and years of hands-on experience was a dream come true. I had heard of Leonardo before applying as I was familiar with its helicopter business but wasn’t aware of the cyber capabilities. I saw a post online Leonardo Early Careers and was instantly attracted due to the opportunity to secure and support critical national infrastructure. It is important to me to have fulfilling work, which I can achieve at Leonardo.
The culture was also very attractive to me. Leonardo’s awards in Investors in Young People showed me that as an apprentice I would be supported and valued. Leonardo is a Disability Confident Employer and, as I have dyslexia, I knew this would not impact my application. I moved across the country for the job on my own but as I felt so welcomed at Leonardo, it didn’t feel daunting.
As part of my degree apprenticeship, I rotate on placements in the different areas within the cyber and security solutions business. This allows me to have a go at a range of practices before choosing where I want to work when my apprenticeship ends. From the start, I have been involved with real world projects and have been learning every day. So many amazing people at Leonardo value the apprenticeship scheme and they are always happy to give me a hand when I need support.
Leonardo has given me the opportunity to be a STEM ambassador where I have helped plan and run workshops, careers talks and activities to inspire young people to get involved with cyber. My favourite STEM event was when I worked with Unlock Cyber and I made and delivered a demonstration on OSINT (Open Source INTelligence) capabilities to local schools. The reaction of the students when they realised how much information can be exposed from a simple google search wasn’t dissimilar to my reaction to when I first started learning about cyber security. I felt me proud to be able to pass on my knowledge and enthusiasm with the backing of a company like Leonardo. Hopefully from my demonstration I inspired someone to give cyber security a chance!
Through Unlock Cyber I was interviewed about my experiences as an apprentice at Leonardo. It was great to be able to share my enthusiasm and give advice to other young females on how to develop their cyber security knowledge and skills. I am looking forward to the next two years of my degree apprenticeship and excited to see where my career takes me!”
To find out more about apprenticeships with Leonardo, visit careers.uk.leonardo.com or search Early Careers Leonardo
