Added: Over a year ago by Leonardo
Leonardo and the Royal Air Force (RAF) are driving greater inclusion in the defence sector, through a pioneering new mentoring programme.
The Ascend programme will match mentors from the Leonardo Armed Forces Network with serving RAF Personnel belonging to the RAF Ethnic Minorities Network over six months. During this period, mentees will receive one-to-one mentoring that will be tailored to fit each participant’s individual needs and future aspirations.
Beyond this coaching, great emphasis will be placed on creating a safe space where insights and experiences can be exchanged between mentor and mentee in an atmosphere of frankness and transparency. These will act as points of reflection to identify opportunities to spark new collaborations within both organisations.
Leonardo UK Head of Inclusion and Diversity, Rachel Ruxton, said: “The RAF is a long-term partner of ours, and we are both facing similar challenges regarding increasing diversity across Defence. Working together, we created Ascend, and I was pleased to see seven former members of the RAF be the first to volunteer as mentors and to support the development of members of the RAF Ethnic Minorities Network. It was gratifying for me to see my colleagues demonstrate so much enthusiasm for this new programme, to draw on experiences that will help shape our inclusive culture.
“There are so many different dimensions of identity and experience that are not isolated from one another, but rather intertwine and overlap in intricate ways to affect our daily lives.
The Ascend programme will allow us to explore this aspect in more depth and I’m really encouraged by the feedback we’ve had so far on the programme from all those participating.”
Mentoring is an established priority across Leonardo UK’s Inclusion and Diversity Strategy, and the launch of Ascend complements a range of programmes already live, including Women in Defence mentoring, programmes with Association of Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers, as well as an internal mentoring matching tool.
Squadron Leader Micah Aopare, Chair of RAF Ethnic Minorities Network (pictured right), said: “We are proud to be partnering with Leonardo on the ground-breaking Ascend programme, which marks an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to foster inclusion within the Royal Air Force.
This initiative provides a unique opportunity for our personnel, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, to access tailored mentoring and coaching that can significantly enhance both their personal and professional development. However, beyond the one-to-one mentoring, Ascend is more than just career progression—it is about creating an open and honest dialogue where experiences, insights, and ideas can be shared in a truly transparent and supportive environment.
“By working together with our partners at Leonardo, we aim to build stronger ties, challenge existing norms, and spark new, innovative approaches to inclusion within the RAF and across Defence. This programme reflects the RAF’s broader commitment to ensuring that all our personnel, regardless of background, are given the tools and opportunities to reach their full potential.
We believe that by embracing a range of perspectives and experiences, we not only enrich our community, but also strengthen our operational effectiveness.”
