Show Notes
In this final episode of series 1 of Future Horizons: The Tempest Podcast, we learn about Tempest’s exciting steps on to the international stage for the next phase of the programme’s development and discuss why diversity will be so important to the future transformation of the programme. Part 1 - What's next for Tempest? The Ministry of Defence has signed a £250 million contract with British industry Team Tempest partners for the next phase of development for this major national and international endeavour. In the first segment of the final episode of the podcast, we discuss the ongoing commitment for the programme in the UK, as well as the collaboration between the programme’s international partners. Host Zevi Watmough speaks to Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK, Leonardo, Air Commodore Jonny Moreton, UK Programme Director, Future Combat Air System, UK MoD and Trevor Taylor, Professorial Research Fellow in Defence Management, at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Part 2 - Transforming working cultures (starting at 22:46) Transformation underpins the Tempest programme – challenging ways of working, approaches to collaboration and driving innovation across the aerospace industry. People with very different thought processes, perspectives and backgrounds need to come together to innovate. Today’s Generation Tempest will become tomorrow’s workforce and they will have an expectation that they will work in an environment that welcomes difference, diversity and creativity. How can they feel empowered to embark on those sensitive yet vital conversations that will break down barriers and lead to the type of close collaboration that will be so central to Britain’s future prosperity? Host Zevi Watmough explores the answers to those questions with Chi Felly-Njoku, Graduate Electrical Engineer at Arup and University Events Lead at AFBE-UK, and Dr Mark McBride-Wright, Founder & Managing Director, Equal Engineers. Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on Twitter for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube
More from Future Horizons: The Tempest Podcast
Generation Tempest is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the UK’s emerging engineering talent to shape the future of UK combat air. But what does it mean to be a part of Generation Tempest and how can you become a part of it? In this special early careers episode of Future Horizons, we hear from some of those already helping to design the UK's next generation combat air system and their experiences of working as part of Team Tempest. Host Zevi Watmough is then joined by Team Tempest partners who discuss the different career paths available to those taking their first steps into UK aerospace and how personal skills and careers can be developed on the UK's most exciting engineering programmes. Discover more about the latest career opportunities with Team Tempest at www.tempestcareers.com
The Strategic Defence Review described international alliances and partnerships as the bedrock of global stability becoming even more important to the UK in the context of growing risk and uncertainty. It referred to the Global Combat Air Programme as an example of capability collaboration and a powerful signal of the UK's ambition to bring partners from different geographic regions closer together in support of collective security. To discuss the importance of global relationships with the UK's future combat air system, including GCAP, host Zevi Watmough is joined by:
The previous episode of Future Horizons focused on the rewarding opportunities for Senior Qualified Experienced Professionals. In this episode, we take a visit to the 2025 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) to meet some of the young people who are already working as part of "Generation Tempest" and discover why events such as RIAT are so important to inspiring the next generation of engineers and pilots. We hear also from senior leaders on how developing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths is vital to not only to shaping the future of UK combat air but is a key factor in the security and resilience of our country.
UK Government estimates that UK defence spending supports around 434,000 highly skilled and well-paid jobs in all regions and nations of the UK. Despite this, the national skills shortage remains a critical challenge in the Defence sector. In this episode we therefore look at what Team Tempest and the development of the UK’s FCAS capability, has to offer Suitably Qualified Experienced Professionals and why a career in the UK aerospace industry should be of interest to all ages and skill sets. Joining host Zevi Watmough to discuss the topic further are:
In the first two episodes of this series, we explored the capability being developed by Team Tempest that will enable the UK, and particularly the Royal Air Force, to protect the country and meet potential threats. In this episode we focus on the benefits that Team Tempest will deliver to the UK’s prosperity. The UK government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, with an ambition to increase to 3% in the next Parliament, as economic and fiscal conditions allow, will see the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. Joining host Zevi Watmough to discuss how Team Tempest and the wider UK Defence sector are important contributors to the country’s future economic growth are: