Aircraft Carrier Alliance

Pre-joining

Buddying

You will be assigned a Sigma buddy, who will be someone a few years into the scheme and will be able to ease your transition into BAE Systems.

Workshops

You will have the opportunity to attend a Sigma workshop, which will enable you to network with current scheme members and start your involvement with the scheme prior to joining.

Sigma Manager Meetings

These meetings will establish your first placement in the business and launch your development and career plans.

Personal Development Review (PDR) cycle

The purpose of PDRs is to ensure that reward is linked to performance in the business. In general, they are held every six months.

Initial appraisal

This will take place within a month of you joining.

Professional review

The Professional Review is typically conducted in year 2 or 3 to support key decisions such as choice of MSc or MBA and selection of final placements. It comprises a one-to-one review with both the Corporate HR Director and the Sigma Manager.

The purpose of the Professional Review is to conduct a rigorous assessment of your progress in leadership competency development, your outstanding development needs and your readiness to take on roles of significant responsibility. It is a key watershed review of your individual development.

Exit Review

The Exit Review is conducted prior to you completing the scheme. It comprises a one-to-one review with both the Corporate HR Director and the Sigma Manager, intended to provide a final gap analysis of “where I am and where I should be” and support your transition into the business.

Placements

Placements are key to both leadership and functional development. Selection of placements should be based on your development objectives, business priorities, key or core domain/programme areas and personal interest.

Typically, the Sigma programme consists of two six-month placements, followed by a one-year placement, and culminating in two 18-month placements. However, this structure is intended to be flexible to take into account prior experience and specific development needs.

Sigma Support Network

Workshops

Managed by a Sigma scheme member with support from the Sigma Manager, these workshops occur tri-annually and will cover topics that further the scheme in the spirit of continuous improvement. These workshops provide a unique opportunity for all Sigma graduates to meet, strengthening the sense of community and building the network.

Working Groups

Working Groups steer continuous improvement initiatives and you will be strongly encouraged to participate.

BAE Systems Involvement

Pan-Business Group and pan-BAE Systems bodies offer excellent experience, as well as providing a tangible means of contributing to the development of the organisation. These activities help to develop business awareness, networks and strategic vision.

Multi-Cultural Experience

Both the Working Together and Customer Focus leadership competencies require future leaders to develop awareness of different cultures (in both business and national terms), value diversity and empathise with global customers to build strong relationships. Consequently, you will be expected to pursue opportunities for relevant multi-cultural experience. This might include working in or leading multi-cultural teams, or working overseas as part of a placement.

Learning Sets

Learning Sets are formalised social groups of Sigma Scheme Members, ideally from a mixture of year groups. The purpose of these groups is to offer a close support network as the scheme expands and ensure that knowledge is passed down though the years. Learning Sets may, for example, meet to discuss topics that are raised at Workshops, Performance Reviews or Coaching sessions.