Leon: DESG graduate
Employer: DESG
Qualifications: BEng mechanical engineering
I wanted a job that would let me work in different roles, and I was attracted to this scheme because it involves placements and secondments in the Ministry of Defence (MOD), industry and the armed forces over the course of a two-year programme. I also wanted an IMechE accredited scheme because chartership is one of my goals. I opted to specialise in nuclear propulsion of submarines because it’s an exciting field with long-term career prospects.
A variety of placements
My first placement was for three months in the submarine support project team. This primarily involved design and general project management, and gave me an understanding of how the MOD and defence work. I followed this with six months in the nuclear propulsion project team, working on designing the successor nuclear propulsion plant so it would be available, reliable and maintainable. Next, I spent nine months on secondment to the production and commercial departments of BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness.
I am currently halfway through a four-month secondment to Rolls-Royce, covering procurement. I’m learning how this works between the MOD and its contractors – and also between Rolls-Royce and its subcontractors. I visit suppliers to sound out problems, work out how to make things better, and then try to solve the problems. I’m also learning how to place new orders and oversee the delivery of items. Having a sound technical background means I can understand the systems, order the right equipment and know it will work. Communication is important as I’m regularly in contact with suppliers and other parts of the organisation. Project management ability is important for managing suppliers – and my own workload. I was quite surprised at the need for leadership skills at this stage.
Submarines today and in the future
The highlight of my working life so far has been spending time on all the different submarines. I’ve worked on the current class of submarines, the new ones that are being built in Barrow, and on the development of future submarines. I’m also hoping to attend submarine sea trials. I’ve had many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that I would not have been able to gain anywhere else.
Flexibility and support
The majority of my placements have been office based, but I’ve also worked at a manufacturing facility and had opportunities to travel to dock yards and look at submarines. I generally work from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm but with flexi-time I can vary this. Because my placements have been in different areas, I’ve had support from my employer including travel expenses and sometimes an accommodation allowance. It is possible to stay in one place but it would limit your opportunities in terms of seeing how the industry works. Other graduates on the scheme have gone overseas but I chose not to.
Extensive training
My training has been extensive, both in terms of soft skills and technical training. I’ve been on courses ranging from a one-day online course on defence to a five-day classroom course on the principles of project management. Teambuilding events have included a simulation of a sinking ship, and I’ve also undertaken submarine escape training. I’ve also been on courses related to nuclear propulsion. I spent two weeks doing a nuclear introductory course at HMS Sultan to gain a basic understanding of how a nuclear propulsion plant works and the associated safety aspects, and I will be doing an in-depth, six-week course before long. There’s a good balance between classroom study and hands-on work using a mock-up of submarine controls. My employer also supports training for additional qualifications. Once I’ve completed my next placement, I plan to start an MSc in nuclear engineering.