Neil Broughton – Procurement

Neil Broughton joined BAE Systems as a craft apprentice – and now has ambitions to head up an entire department.

“I believe I’m a good example of how far you can go in a company like this. I joined as a teenage craft apprentice at Lostock in Bolton, now I’m an IPT leader in sub-contracts for the Joint Strike Fighter programme, based at Samlesbury, near Preston.

“I’ve had this procurement role for four years and really enjoy the diversity of the job and interaction with suppliers. I’ve also worked in many different functions around the company, including the machine shop, quality, estimating, project management, and operations planning.

“My career has been very varied and I’ve been encouraged to develop. I went back to college to get my Engineering HNC, supported by the company, and never looked back. There are development opportunities right through your career and I'm still learning!

“Being in a large and diverse company such as BAE Systems means you can have several careers in one. I don’t think you could get the variety I’ve had in most other businesses. My ambition now is to head up my own department. Back in 1977 I never expected to get this far – not bad for a lad who started out as a craft apprentice on the shop floor!”

back to our people