*** II *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE INNOVATIVE SME S ABOUT THIS SUPPLEMENT Todays defence sector is synonymous with innovation and challenge. Whether your interest lies in new technology or tours of duty on the front line, career opportunities in this sector remain strong *** The Daily Telegraph KOBAL COLLECTION CONTENTS 3 THE SKYS THE LIMIT The rise of female RAF pilots MAPPING A MELTING WORLD The Arctics new frontiers SPARE-TIME SOLDIERS Life as a Territorial Army volunteer HAVE YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES? The skills you need to be an Army officer A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION Paid apprenticeships with on-the-job training A HELPING HAND Humanitarian relief work: a reward for life Cutting edge companies Adam Ramsay discovers that small firms think big when it comes to innovation in the defence industry Helmet liners and knee pads containing intelligent molecules that lock together on impact, reducing the force of a blow... A water bottle that removes all bacteria, algae, cysts, viruses and other waterborne pathogens without the need for nasty chemicals... These and many other remarkable innovations have been developed in the UK by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), because when it comes to innovation in the defence industry, smaller companies often prove to have the edge. They have agility to make rapid leaps, while their corporate culture is more likely to encourage free thinking. The success of innovative SMEs translates directly into financial benefits. Latest MoD figures (for 2007-8) suggest that there were at least 3,000 SMEs working in the defence sector, either supplying directly to the MoD or working with prime contractors. The UK defence contracts that these SMEs won in this period were worth almost 900 million. Larger companies and multinationals have cottoned on to the success of their smaller competitors, and many have now created mentoring and sponsorship programmes. Its a symbiotic relationship, says Dave Mullins, manager of the Investment in Innovation programme at BAE Systems. With an open innovation model, we bring in great ideas from outside BAE Systems and help make them a reality. Innovation in defence is at the cutting edge of engineering, hydromechanics and electronics, to name a few, says Ian Godden, 4 5 6 All new gadgetry uses numerous innovations, and this is where SMEs really pull their weight Defence tactics: Will Smith under surveillance in Enemy of the State; inset, Human Recognition Systems face enrolment trial chairman of ADS, the trade organisation advancing UK AeroSpace, Defence and Security industries. What you need is not one company making the leap forward, but many companies all cogs in a larger machine. 7 FACIAL RECOGNITION 8 PRODUCED BY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL REPORTS Editor Fiona Donald Deputy editor Sarah Poulton Acting Art director Carollyn Vassallo Picture editor James Bowman Designers John Catherall, Abi Hardwick Sub-editors Clara Penn, Kate Rigby, Ana Vrkljan, Alison Willmott Smooth operator: the SATURN UGV automated surveillance robot, designed for use in combat zones UK firm OmniPerception, which specialises in facial biometrics (a kind of facial fingerprinting that identifies and recognises facial features), has been pioneering a facial-recognition project with BAE Systems. Its aim is to improve finding and tracking technology for use with CCTV footage in national security, and to help track criminals no longer just the preserve of futuristic thrillers, such as Enemy of the State. Those working at OmniPerception are at the leading edge of their field, says Stewart Hefferman, the companys CEO. We have software and hardware engineers, project managers and specialists who develop core algorithms for facial-recognition software. Its exciting to be world leaders in an area, and to see that expertise translated into technology with applications for keeping people safe. To fast forward the cutting- edge facial fingerprinting, BAE Systems has commissioned another company, Human Recognition Systems which uses biometric and identity management technology to carry out face enrolment trials. E-X-DRIVE All new gadgetry, from a jet to a helmet, uses numerous innovations, and this is where SMEs really pull their weight. Marksman Industrial supplied precision metalwork for the E-X-Drive, a hybrid engine for track vehicles being developed by UK defence technology and security company QinetiQ. The E-X-Drive is 30 per cent lighter than a conventional drive and consumes 25 per cent less fuel, thus offering a promising solution to supplying the huge amount of power needed by armoured track vehicles, while overcoming the challenge of a future with limited fossil fuels. Working for an SME, you have to be willing to learn and stay open-minded so that you can remain on top, says Marc Green, managing director of Marksman Industrial Limited. The beauty of the E-X-Drive is that all the components are unique, designed and manufactured to the needs of the project. Forming partnerships with firms like QinetiQ gives our people a great opportunity to work with some of the best designers and engineers in the country. QinetiQ seeks SMEs that are leaders in their field. We always need to be looking at current operations and predicting what challenges were going to face, says Chrys Stevenson, business development director for QinetiQs land division. SMEs are an essential part of this as they bring new perspectives, agility and responsiveness to delivering things quickly. AUTOMATED RECONNAISSANCE Defence SME Stellar Research Services led a team of SMEs, universities and larger industry partners to deliver a system of automated surveillance robots known as Sensing & Autonomous Tactical Urban Reconnaissance Network (SATURN). The innovative system was built for use in combat zones and is designed to identify potential dangers in hostile urban environments. Both parts of the system, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) are programmed so that a soldier simply has to click on an area of the map on a control centre. The two robots will then navigate to this point and film the area using optical technology and thermal imaging, which is sent back to the control centre in real time. Working for an SME, you will be a key part of the team from the start and you will have to pull your weight, says Dr Julia Richardson, Director of Stellar Research Services. There is a demand for bright young minds. When you look at Afghanistan, youve got an enemy who is clever and adaptive, and our defence industry has to be able to respond as quickly. The more bright young people who are in the mix, the faster we are going to be able to innovate and develop systems to respond.
*** *** *** *** DEFENCE CAREERS IN Wednesday, January 20, 2010 jobs.telegraph.co.uk/ca The Daily Telegraph GETTY Winning ways: building good relations with local populations in conflict zones is likely to become more of a priority as the Government shifts its emphasis towards early intervention and
*** II *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE INNOVATIVE SME S ABOUT THIS SUPPLEMENT Todays defence sector is synonymous with innovation and challenge. Whether your interest lies in new technology or tours of duty on the front line, career opportunities in this
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 *** The Daily Telegraph WOMEN IN THE RAF CAREERS IN DEFENCE *** III The skys the limit Three women who are blazing a trail in the RAF talk to Sarah James about the rise and rise of the Forces female stars FLIGHT LIEUTENANT hit the headlines
*** IV *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE OCEANOGRAPHY & HYDROGRAPHY *** The Daily Telegraph Mapping a melting world Changing conditions in the Arctic are opening up new frontiers, says Adam Ramsay, creating extreme challenges for those with the right skills
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 *** The Daily Telegraph TERRITORIAL ARMY CAREERS IN DEFENCE SHARON McDOWELL, 49 Commanding officer of the 201 (N) Field Hospital (Volunteers) at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sharon McDowell is also a matron at Sunderland Royal Hospita
*** VI *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE ARMY OFFICER TRAINING *** The Daily Telegraph ALAMY Have you got what it takes? The road to Sandhurst is a tough one finds Adam Ramsay, as he takes part in initial selection tests for Army officers It is barely dawn
*** *** THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 *** The Daily Telegraph APPRENTICESHIPS CAREERS IN DEFENCE *** VII A step in the right direction An apprenticeship in defence can lead to in-depth training and a job with prospects. Graeme Whitcroft looks at companies seeking new recruits If
*** VIII *** *** WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 THE DAILY TELEGRAPH CAREERS IN DEFENCE RESCUE SQUADS *** The Daily Telegraph GETTY, MOD/DEFENCE IMAGES From far left: the flooded high street in Cockermouth in November 2009; RAF Odihams 27 Squadron in Pakistan; HMS Iron Duke A helping hand when disaste
