Sameer Savani

Sameer Savani

I was working at Dstl and at a stage in my career where I wanted to experience other aspects of work, and gain wider experience. I have to admit, I wasn't particularly sure about what areas I wanted to delve into, and I had apprehensions about leaving the very technical area I worked in, if only on secondment. What I was sure of, was that I needed broader experience if I wanted to progress my career and be sure of what I wanted to do in the future.

I had always kept abreast of possible opportunities available to me through the usual channels at work. When the SBAC advert came around, I was curious to know more as I had only previously associated SBAC with the Farnborough International Airshow.

Before I knew it, my enquiries reached Mike Steeden, who would soon join Dstl as Technical Director (having just left SBAC). He invited me for an informal interview and I quickly realised that this secondment was an ideal opportunity for me: it not only fitted my own development aspirations, but also benefited Dstl and MOD by maintaining and building links and relationships with industry, as aspired by the Defence Industrial Strategy and the Defence Technology Strategy. With Mike's direct backing, I was scheduled to join SBAC in a matter of weeks.

I knew very little about the area I was to work in at SBAC, and the previous incumbent of this post had left before I was able to join, so there was no handover period. I was on a very steep learning curve, which has been an enthralling experience, if a little daunting at times. After only three months, I am now at the stage where I have become a point of contact for my area of work (National Aerospace Technology Strategy) which really makes me feel as though I am contributing to the business. I am thoroughly enjoying my time here: the people are really friendly and supportive and the take time out to explain things, despite their obviously busy schedules.

What has been the biggest adjustment? I have had to learn to work much more independently than I had previously. Although there is a strong team ethos, the shear breadth of SBAC's work means that my director is often out of office or in meetings. I have had to learn to find information from a variety of sources; it has been a truly mammoth exercise in networking with people from industry and government to find out what I have needed to know.

What do I enjoy the most? The people; I have had the opportunity to talk to and interact with a wider range of people than I could have ever imagined. From leading officials in DTI and MOD, to senior members of industry from the likes of Airbus, Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and QinetiQ, not to mention the great team at SBAC itself. This is the aspect my secondment I will miss the most.

How have I benefited? Where do I start?! I have had the opportunity to learn all about the National Aerospace Technology Strategy and how that provides an essential focus for government and industry R&D investment. I have been able to see how MOD's technology programmes and aspirations fit into that framework, which is of direct relevance to my work at Dstl. I have seen the investment in R&D from the industry's perspective: the constraints, incentives and apprehensions, where previously I had only appreciated this from the government's (MOD's) viewpoint. Because I have come in at a time of significant change within DTI, I have had the opportunity to learn about the mechanisms of how knowledge is transferred from the science base through to technology development and demonstrations, again, this is directly relevant to my work at Dstl. The single biggest benefit I have experienced is the ability and confidence to deal effectively with people at all levels, be they in government or industry. I think this will be a massive advantage to me on my return to Dstl and in any future role I undertake.

Every aspect of my experience here has been educational, enjoyable and satisfying; I hope that I have been able to contribute something of lasting significance to SBAC in return. I would like to thank Dstl for sponsoring this opportunity; without their support, I would never have been able to join SBAC.