In paid collaboration with Knowit: The consultancy Knowit Defence Technology is now offering a new round of its introduction programme "New to the Defence Sector" (Ny i försvarssektorn). The aim is to attract civilian expertise to an area of growing demand, and applications are now open.
"We want to create a bridge for people who have the right skills but lack industry experience. The course provides a solid foundation for understanding the defence sector's structure, technology, and working methods," says Veronica Holmberg, who is responsible for the programme.
"The introduction programme is Knowit's contribution to supplying civilian expertise to the sector, enabling innovation capacity, personnel provision, and ultimately increased defence capability. By offering a structured pathway into the sector, conditions are created for this expertise not only to become established, but also to remain and develop in line with future needs," she continues.
New to the Defence Sector is aimed at individuals with an academic background and several years of professional experience who are interested in working on defence-related matters within government agencies or industry. Across six course sessions, two of which are half-days, participants receive a broad introduction to topics including military systems procurement, terminology, and the interplay between key actors in the sector, with a focus on the Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) and its organisation. The course is delivered in person and encompasses exercises, self-study, and networking activities.
"It feels really good to be able to offer a new term. The response has been strong and the need for specialist civilian expertise within the sector is considerable," says Jaime Rico, course director.
The programme draws on Knowit's many years of experience supporting organisations including the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in procuring systems. It has been developed to meet a growing need for broader competence. The goal is to accelerate participants' understanding of the sector's requirements and create the conditions for them to contribute quickly in an environment that differs in part from other industries.
"The most valuable thing I am taking away is the knowledge of how the sector is structured and how my role fits into it. I feel more confident with the terminology and believe I will be able to get up to speed on new assignments more quickly going forward," says Harriet Rundquist from Svekon, a previous course participant.
If you would like to read more about the course, you can click here.