Roke |

Roke is a leading UK innovator in science and engineering. For over 60 years we’ve been improving the world through innovation by combining the physical and digital in new ways. Our journey began in defence but as the decades have rolled on, we're also inventing and engineering technically advanced data and communication systems in national security and for Fortune 500 companies.

From innovations in computer vision powering the autonomous landing of a drone at sea, to an artificial intelligence inspection system that drastically reduces aircraft turnaround times by autonomously inspecting jet turbines. Right through to the technology behind Hawk-Eye tracking the trajectory of balls in sport. It all began at Roke.

Working closely with our customers we solve real world technical challenges and help deliver critical missions. As a trusted partner, we welcome any problem confident that our consulting, research, innovation and product development will help them revolutionise and improve their world.

We’re proud to be part of the Chemring Group plc, providing us with complementary expertise, corporate strength and access to international markets for our world-leading intellectual property.

Roke people are curious and unashamedly technical. That’s why we’ve fostered an environment where some of the world’s finest minds have the time, trust and freedom to succeed. Our team of 600+ engineers are uniquely placed to use their deep knowledge of sensors, communications, cyber and AI to combine and apply these technologies to keep people safe whilst unlocking value.

In fact, our strength comes from our people and their diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We trust in their talent, skill and dedication to deliver projects, products and capabilities that protect what matters most - no matter their level of experience. Our goal is to enable you to have a safe, inspiring working environment where you can perform at your best. We will invest in you to make sure there are opportunities available for you to get involved in career defining projects, undertake new qualifications and shape your future. From graduates to experienced engineers, every individual contributes to our collective success.

We’re serious about developing and supporting people. For those looking to kick-start their careers, we have three early careers pathways from which to choose. From graduate programmes to undergraduate internships and degree apprenticeships, an early careers programme at Roke will give you unrivalled experience working on real-life projects that will make a huge difference to you, your customers, and the world around you. Improve your skillset, enhance your capabilities, and boost your career, with Roke.

Managing our social impact

Our goals are simple. To help make our environment and community a better place, and operate responsibly and ethically as a business. This means leveraging our know-how, financial resources and the commitment and enthusiasm of our people to improve life in the communities and areas in which we live and work.

We improve the world through innovation. It’s what drives our people to deliver their best and why our partners, in Defence, Government and Industry trust us to solve their most technically challenging, mission critical problems.

Together, we are building a safer and secure world by designing, combining and applying emerging technologies in innovative ways that keep people safe and secure, while delivering value.

Our approach is focused around:

• Establishing a strong and proactive safety and wellbeing culture
• Reducing our environmental impact
• Investing in and respecting our people
• Conducting our business with integrity

We are one Roke. Our strength comes from our diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We all have a responsibility to create an environment where we have the freedom, support and trust to succeed - where we are encouraged to bring our best self to work.

What we do:

• Created The Roke Academy to help bridge the UK's tech skill gap and train people who may not have come from traditional technology backgrounds
• Honest and open yearly Gender Pay Gap report
• Provide graduate and technical degree apprentice schemes
• Employee resource groups that represent Rokies from all walks of life including ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, women in Roke, neurodiversity and the veteran’s community
• Work closely with schools and colleges to inspire young people to take an active interest STEM subjects
• A generous employee referral scheme to reward our colleagues who bring new talent to Roke
• Commitment to operating as a diverse and inclusive employer by working with a number of dedicated charities and organisations including; Re-Employ, Stonewall, Creased Puddle and more
• Complete Human Rights and Modern Slavery Act statements
• Supporting our armed forces community as demonstrated by receiving a Gold Award for the Armed Forces Covenant's Employer Recognition Scheme

The health and wellbeing of our people is important to us. We invest time and effort in this to ensure that we preserve, protect and promote a healthy workplace through our Mental Health First Aiders, People Partners and our Healthy Workplace Champions.

What we do:

• Dedicated People and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) teams
• An Employee Assistance Programme
• Fully trained Mental Health First Aiders at every Roke site
• One of the first businesses to be certified to the international standard ISO45003:2021 (Psychological Health and Safety at Work)
• HSE management systems are certified to International standards ISO45001: 2018 (Occupational Health and Safety) and ISO 14001: 2015 (Environmental)
• Social clubs that build camaraderie in the workplace
• A gym located on our Romsey site and discount to various gyms across the UK offered as a taxable benefit
• A cycle to work scheme
• A dedicated employee value proposition
• Free flu vaccinations and eyecare vouchers
• An employee discount programme
• Flexible working arrangements to support individuals
• A culture underpinned by our identified Roke Behaviours, as well as Chemring Group's values of Safety, Excellence and Innovation
• A dedicated COVID-19 policy

At Roke we believe in making the extraordinary every day, and that starts with you. Our Roke Academy has been developed to help our people be their best.

So, what is the Roke Academy?

The Roke Academy supports the development of all Roke employees, no matter what stage of their career.

Early Careers

Each year we welcome new employees into our business through a number of early careers channels:

Summer Vacations: An 8-week programme for university students to work on a Roke project for 8 weeks during their summer holidays. Working with a technical mentor to support their learning and solving real problems for our customers, our summer vacation scheme serves as a pipeline into a permanent role at Roke.

Graduate Scheme: A two-year development pathway that supports both technical and professional upskilling for new employees who join the business following their degree programmes. We consider candidates from a range of STEM subjects and support them in learning a breadth of competencies to feel confident on challenges projects and achieve their career aspirations.

Apprenticeships at Roke: A scheme for individuals who want an alternative to university. Placing candidates on credible apprenticeship standards that complement the complex problems they will tackle for our customers. With a day each week to complete their studies, and regular professional development to propel them in their careers.

Ignite Development Pathway

The Ignite Development Pathway (IDP) focuses on life skills and enthusiasm for technology that candidates bring, rather than a straight career path. In the face of ‘the war for talent’, the IDP focuses on developing transferable life skills and a passion for technology, rather than benefitting those already qualified for hire, creating an alternate, fully inclusive pathway into employment for those that might otherwise have faced barriers-to-entry.

The IDP is designed to be a centre of excellence for learning and development, focusing on non-traditional areas of recruitment to embrace undiscovered talent who may not have previously had the opportunity to enter the technology field. Kick started by three months of software engineering training, learners will then move into a safe project space with the opportunity for positive failure. They will then work on three increasingly complex projects building and finally delivering real world solutions to solve future customer problems.

Internal L&D

Alongside our programmatic learning we also support bespoke learning for all employees to ensure they access the development they need, at the time they need it.

Some of our initiatives include:

• Conducting regular Learning needs across Roke to understand what our teams need
• Quarterly leadership development sessions to increase our leadership capabilities
• Implementing digital learning platforms, which are accessible to all employees
• Partnering with a number of external training providers that align with the needs of Roke

Continually improving our sustainability performance plays a key role in the way we run our businesses today and plan for the future, as we manage our environmental, social and governance (ESG)-related risks.

What we do:

• A complete Carbon Reduction plan that reduces our emissions year-on-year and will be carbon neutral by 2030
• Electric charging points installed at our Romsey site
• Reduced our carbon footprint by 70% through green tariffs for electricity
• Further reduction of our carbon footprint through the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO)
• Operating as ‘Zero to Landfill’ and our waste practices ensure that all waste produced is recycled or recovered both on and off-site
• Managing circa 400 trees on our Romsey site which are subject to preservation orders
• Investing in the continual management of the local environment and eco systems