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OPENING THE DOOR TO NEW TECH TALENT: HOW MBDA IS HIRING WOMEN IN DEFENCE
Since 2023, MBDA and Code First Girls (CFG) have joined forces to hire more women in defence. This partnership, centred around opening career paths for those new to tech and career switchers, created a guaranteed pipeline for underrepresented talent to thrive in tech roles at MBDA.
The defence sector faces some unique recruitment challenges, from competing with dynamic startups and big tech to navigating rigorous security requirements, combined with a history of underrepresentation. By partnering with Code First Girls, MBDA has been able to build a strong pipeline of talented women who not only cleared the necessary security checks but were also deeply aligned with MBDA’s mission. MBDA were able to create new pathways into defence tech, hiring diverse candidates who are:
100%
career switchers from various backgrounds
60%
first generation to attend university
80%
beginner/ no technical experience
These women have gone on to launch their careers and are excited to bring fresh perspectives and energy into the defence industry.
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The Problem
The need for change: Closing the gender gap
MBDA is on a mission: by 2030, they want women to make up 30% of their workforce. But with a shortage of women entering tech and women in defence, reaching this goal requires innovative solutions to tap into a broader talent pool. Just 25% of UK defence sector jobs are held by women, which means those looking for a role in tech are less likely to see themselves represented and to pursue potential opportunities. MBDA and Code First Girls worked together to showcase the opportunities that the defence sector can offer women, and build a pipeline of women talent within their software development team.
The Solution
1. Hiring diverse career switchers with transferable skills
In the past four years, the Code First Girls community has grown from just 2% career switchers to 49%. Our community of women looking to change careers bring a wealth of transferable soft and professional skills such as problem-solving, communication and analytical expertise. By sponsoring those transitioning from careers such as teacher and accountant through Code First Girls tech education programmes, MBDA has been able to recruit women whose experiences from other fields enrich the workplace with fresh perspectives. This model is already proving successful—each of the sponsored women have joined MBDA in Software Development and Software Engineering roles.
2. Creating an inclusive interview process that promotes diverse applicants
Traditional recruitment practices in the defence industry often disadvantage career switchers and beginners due to technical tests and experience requirements, placing further challenges on improving the number of women in defence. Working closely with our Code First Girls Client Success Managers and leaning on their experience and insights as to best practice process, MBDA revamped their interview process to identify transferable skills, focusing on each candidate’s unique potential and interests. This inclusive approach made space for a diverse range of candidates to showcase their strengths beyond traditional qualifications, opening up new pathways for underrepresented talent to join the defence sector.
3. Engaging with candidates to kick-start productivity
MBDA’s “About Me Day” welcomed candidates to participate in a hands-on experience where they got to meet the team, explore the workplace, and dive into their specific interests. This day of connecting and discovering with future colleagues fostered a strong sense of belonging, setting candidates up to feel confident and ready to make a meaningful impact. These early touchpoints sparked engagement and built excitement from day one so that by the time the students graduated, they were already familiar with MBDA culture, energised and prepared to bring their talents to the team.
The Results
Candidates hired by MBDA are flourishing in their new roles. Hear from Georgia on her experience of working with MBDA;
Raj Badiani, Head of Software Engineering UK at MBDA, tells us why they decided to partner with Code First Girls to tackle the number of women in defence.
GET IN TOUCH WITH CODE FIRST GIRLS
Companies around the world trust Code First Girls to:
- Attract diverse tech talent through upskilling career switchers and tech beginners.
- Provide comprehensive education and mentorship for women across in-demand technical skills.
- Close the digital skills gap within tech teams.
- Bring down barriers and create non-traditional pathways into tech for women.
Why not find out for yourself? Speak to our experts here. 👇