Apprenticeships aren’t just about training... they’re about opportunity, potential and transformation.

At just 23 years old, Kaylee Mcisaac has already faced more than most - and achieved more than many. A Plant Maintenance Electrical Engineering Apprentice at BAE Systems and winner of nine awards (including BAE Systems Apprentice of the Year), Kaylee’s story is one of resilience, responsibility, and remarkable drive.

In this bonus episode of The Culture Colonel, Lindsay MacDuff sits down with Kaylee, alongside Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Jon Pentreath and BAE Systems’ Director of Education and Skills, Richard Hamer, for an honest and inspiring conversation about the power of investing in people.

Together, they explore what it really takes to build a more inclusive, future-ready defence and security sector, from the ground up. This episode delves into the evolving needs of defence in a digital age, the role of partnerships between industry and government, and the unseen, human infrastructure behind national resilience.

But at its heart, this is Kaylee’s story: a story of leadership, loss, mentorship, and ambition. A story that proves when talent meets opportunity, anything is possible.

This isn’t just a story about apprenticeships. It’s about equity, leadership - and why the future depends on both.

🎙️ Heading to DSEI (9–12 September)?

Come and meet The Culture Colonel on stand S15-220, where he’ll be joining the team from BFBS Creative. Let’s talk about how we can help you tell your story brilliantly.

To explore opportunities in defence and security, including upcoming events, visit DSEI – Defence and Security Equipment International: www.dsei.co.uk

To learn about careers, apprenticeships, and graduate roles at BAE Systems, visit: www.baesystems.com/en/careers/careers-in-the-uk

To discover how Movement to Work supports young people into employment, visit: www.movementtowork.com

Of course, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this bonus episode. What did you think of Kaylee's story?

You can email Lindsay and the team at TheCultureColonel@bfbs.com

As promised, we’ll be back soon with Series 3 of The Culture Colonel!

Be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you're listening so you're the first to know when new conversations are heading your way.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Naval Servicewomen’s Network is more than a support group - it’s a catalyst for culture change.

In this episode, Lindsay MacDuff, The Culture Colonel, speaks with Lieutenant Commander Fran Crowsley-Allen and Warrant Officer Kim Wyche, co-chairs of the Naval Servicewomen’s Network (NSN). Together, they offer a powerful and personal account of the work being done to shift the lived experience of women across the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

They discuss the origins of the NSN, now more than a decade old, and its evolution from grassroots advocacy to an officially endorsed mechanism influencing defence policy and leadership behaviours. Through candid reflections on allyship, imposter syndrome, and the weight of responsibility, Fran and Kim shine a light on the human side of organisational change.

This is a conversation about visibility, equity, and the long game of changing culture. It’s also about the power of showing up, especially when you’re not sure you belong - and using that uncertainty as fuel to lead.

Voluntary, rigorous, and deeply personal, the work of the NSN is helping to build a Naval Service that works for everyone.

If you are a servicewoman or ex-servicewoman, you can request to join the Facebook group for the Naval Servicewomen's Network: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NavalServicewomen/

And you can support Kim and her husband Neil, aka 'Ship Happens', as they race from Edinburgh to Dartmouth using only public transport and their own two feet in September 2025! https://fundraising.rnrmc.org.uk/fundraisers/ShipHappens

You can listen to the Tim Grimley episode mentioned, here.

And listen to Zena Everett's episode, here.

We'd also love to hear your thoughts on this final episode of the series - and Series 2 as a whole. You can email Lindsay and the team at TheCultureColonel@bfbs.com

And good news! We’ll be back soon with Series 3 of The Culture Colonel! In the meantime, there might be a bonus episode landing in your feed - so keep your eyes peeled. Hit follow or subscribe wherever you're listening so you never miss a conversation.

Follow Lindsay:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindsay-macduff

Instagram: @lindsaymacduff

BFBS Creative is an award-winning, non-profit creative agency. We specialise in helping the Armed Forces, Defence and government tell their story.

Want to learn more? Visit creative.bfbs.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

⚠️ Content Note: This episode contains discussions of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and military sexual trauma from the start. Please listen with care. Support resources are available on our website at bfbs.com/audience support.

Real change needs courage - and a refusal to stay silent.

In this powerful finale to Series 2, Lindsay MacDuff, the Culture Colonel, sits down with Sarah Atherton, former MP, Defence Minister, veteran, social worker, and author of the ground-breaking Atherton Report on Women in the Armed Forces.

Sarah shares her remarkable journey; from leaving school at 16 to joining the Army, becoming a nurse, then a social worker, before entering politics. She speaks candidly about the inquiry that shook Defence to its core, revealing the realities faced by women in uniform, from everyday inequalities to military sexual trauma.

This is a conversation about leadership, culture, and speaking truth to power. Sarah reflects on her core belief that you “don’t have to be laddish to be lethal,” her call for accountability at every level, and why listening without judgement remains Defence’s greatest untapped resource.

She also discusses her hopes for the future, the role of an Armed Forces Commissioner, and why - despite progress - real culture change remains unfinished work.

What did you take away from this episode? Email us at TheCultureColonel@bfbs.com

You can also follow Sarah on Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/saraheatherton/

Follow Lindsay

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindsay-macduff

Instagram: @lindsaymacduff

BFBS Creative is an award-winning, non-profit creative agency. We specialise in helping the Armed Forces, Defence and government tell their story.

Want to learn more? Visit https://creative.bfbs.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.