I guess that a combination of factors attracted me initially.  The diversity of projects within a well-known global business; a vast range of roles which provide chances to travel, deal with customers, and do hands-on engineering and management; and the number of opportunities there would be to progress in the future. That and the Sigma programme itself were the crucial factors.

In terms of expectations, my understanding of the Sigma scheme from what I read has since proved to be accurate, by giving me the opportunity to plan my own development and placements to ensure that I get the most out of the scheme.

The Sigma Programme is one the only programme that I know of that allows you to plot your own career through the placements you choose and the contacts you make. This means that you can directly feel the rewards of your own hard work and also ensure that the job that you are doing is one that you enjoy, and are best suited to. The programme also allows me to stay in contact with engineering activities and therefore use my degree, whilst heading down a management career path.

The Programme has been very varied as a result of the different jobs that I have been doing, but also within each job as a result of the programmes of work. This has meant that there are always new challenges, which has helped to ensure that I can adapt quickly in order to get a job done. The Programme carries a reputation around the business which means that we are expected to constantly perform well which can feel pressurised, but this also means that I have been given opportunities which would normally not have been possible at this stage of my career.

The initial few weeks of starting were probably the most challenging, as there was a need for me to hit the ground running and get on with the jobs in hand. This challenging aspect was having to rapidly understand the operation of the company and the necessary processes to follow. This meant a steep learning curve which, when summed with tight deadlines for deliverables expected from me within the first few weeks, really tested me and had me slightly concerned.  However, I was given good support from my manager and was relieved by the fact that once I got to grips with how things worked and the people to speak to, everything got easier.

I started off working in the Typhoon Central Engineering Office in Warton as part of the Capability and Governance Team. As part of the role I had responsibility for writing and introducing a new Engineering Capability Management Plan which looked at methods of adapting the Business to meet future demands and strategy. It was a good chance to understand Engineering within BAE Systems and the control processes used.

Then I moved to the head office in London to work as the Engineering Programme Coordinator for the Woolf Implementation Programme as part of a team which was tasked with managing the implementation of the findings from Lord Woolf’s report on Ethical Business Conduct. This involves a novel approach of applying a systems engineering methodology in an effort to help the company strive to be a leader in Ethical Business.

I really like the variety; this is both of the work that I do and also the people that I work with. This requires the ability to adapt quickly and it also ensures that I enjoy my work and am constantly faced with new challenges.  In a company of over 100,000 employees, there is always the chance to work with people from different countries and different walks of life, and it is the interactions with this variety of people within each team that I work in, that makes me enjoy what I do.

Possibly the part I’ve enjoyed the most has been the devolvement of the TMS&IP Engineering Capability Management Plan and roll out through the business. This included the use of new concepts and methods to plan and manage future planning within the business, which was a major achievement for me.

During my first few years within BAE Systems – and on the Sigma programme in particular - I appreciate that my future career aspirations will change as a result of the multiple placements that I undertake and the subsequent experiences. As a result, I have deliberately not thought too hard about my five year plans, but instead I have focused on trying to plan my placements for the next three years to ensure that I get a holistic view of the operation of the company. This should help me to identify where I am best suited and thus subsequently make future career plans.

Of course, training is a big part of that.  In addition to the ‘on the job’ training that comes with any placement, I have been able sit down and to talk to my mentors and managers in an effort to identify areas where I could benefit from training. This has allowed me to select and attend multiple courses from the Company Training Catalogue, ranging from IT software courses through to residential courses on the principles of Engineering within BAE Systems.

In addition, whilst on the SLP, I have plans to complete an MBA, and I am already working towards my chartership with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

If I had any words of advice for potential joiners, bear in mind it is worth applying for jobs in September/October as if you are successful it takes a huge weight of your mind and allows you to concentrate on getting through your final year and completing the mountain of coursework, projects and exams.

From a more practical point of view, don’t be put off by the application questions as it is worth spending a few hours on them, and the most practical piece of advice; Use a Spell Check!