Newcastle welcomes the inauguration of Leonardo’s defence tech research site

The international defence and security company, Leonardo, has inaugurated its 8th site in the United Kingdom. This new facility is a cutting-edge science and engineering center located within the Newcastle Helix innovation cluster.

Situated within the state-of-the-art ‘Spark’ development, Leonardo Newcastle will primarily concentrate on research, development, and prototyping of Leonardo’s next-generation sensing, security, and vertical lift products. Many of these innovations will incorporate emerging digital and data technologies.

This site will be interconnected with Leonardo’s other scientific research and manufacturing facilities across the country via a secure cloud network, contributing to the company’s nationwide data-driven engineering projects.

During an event held today to mark the site’s opening, Leonardo was joined by various community, government, and industry leaders. These dignitaries include Councillor Veronica Dunn, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle; the Rt. Hon Justine Greening, Chair of The Purpose Coalition; Stephen Phipson CBE, Chief Executive of Make UK; and Professor Paul Watson, Director of the National Innovation Centre for Data and Professor of Computer Science at Newcastle University.

Clive Higgins, Chair and CEO, Leonardo UK welcomed the opening, saying: “What distinguishes Leonardo from many other global firms with a UK presence is the research, engineering and advanced manufacturing that Leonardo does on shore in Britain. By opening this new site in Newcastle, we will now be able to hire regional talent from the North East to work on some of the UK’s most exciting and forward-thinking technology projects. We’re here for the long term, and are looking to build strong community bonds in Newcastle, matching those established by Leonardo at our other sites around the UK.”

Renowned for its onshore production of UK military helicopters and its cutting-edge electronics utilized in Royal Air Force aircraft, Leonardo boasts a workforce of 8,500 employees in the United Kingdom and stands as one of the largest suppliers to the UK Ministry of Defence. At the core of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a joint endeavor by the UK, Italy, and Japan to develop a 6th generation fighter jet scheduled for service in 2035, Leonardo is also entrusted with safeguarding the nation’s most sensitive information through its longstanding cyber security division.

In the Newcastle region, in addition to fulfilling its customer commitments, Leonardo intends to engage with local SMEs, charitable organizations, social mobility initiatives, schools, and academia, replicating its successful community involvement model as seen in other UK towns and cities, ranging from Yeovil in the South West to Edinburgh in Scotland.

Rt. Hon Justine Greening, Chair of The Purpose Coalition, spoke about the positive effect on social mobility that can be generated by companies like Leonardo. She said: “Engineering is an industry with one of the lowest levels of gender diversity and social mobility, but Leonardo is a fantastic example of how a business can drive change in their own organisations and in the communities they serve. By investing in Newcastle, Leonardo is bringing high value employment and skills to one of the least advantaged areas of the UK, delivering opportunity at every level. In return, it gets access to a pipeline of diverse talent that will let it continue to innovate, grow and build for the future.”
Leonardo is a founding member of the newly-established North East Regional Defence and Security Cluster (NERDSC), which aims to drive further investment in the region and support those already located locally to secure defence and security contracts.

Jennifer Hartley, Director of Invest Newcastle, part of Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, said: “The opening of Leonardo’s research and technology site in Newcastle is a significant milestone in what is a major strategic investment for North East England. Following the launch of NERDSC, we look forward to working closely with Leonardo on growing the region’s defence and aerospace sector to provide valuable new opportunities for our residents.”

Leonardo remains committed to recruiting from the Newcastle area and the broader North-East region. The site is set to accommodate a minimum of 200 employees, with the company harboring aspirations for future expansion. In addition to attracting highly skilled individuals, Leonardo will also focus on investments in upskilling and providing training to its employees in the most cutting-edge digital engineering practices, ensuring they are well-prepared for the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution.

Stephen Phipson CBE, Chief Executive of Make UK, said: “Leonardo is an example of a great British manufacturer that generates valuable intellectual property and exports its products and services worldwide. The company is investing substantially into the evolution of UK manufacturing through its pivot into digital and data-driven engineering, which will provide competitive advantage in international markets and ensure that we keep critical skills here in the UK.”