My story as a Change Maker – Josh Thomson-Smith

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Josh’s engineering mindset has played an important part in helping him drive transformation

Josh’s engineering mindset has played an important part in helping him drive transformation


For over a century, Rolls-Royce has been powered by the engineering excellence of its people. And that extends far beyond the physical practices of manufacturing world-class aero engines. For people like Josh, this engineering mindset and natural talent for finding solutions to complex problems seamlessly translates to business change and improvement.

Josh embarked on his career at Rolls-Royce in 2016, progressing through an engineering internship and graduate program. His early roles immersed him in the intricate world of mechanical design, developing and certifying new engine parts across areas like combustion and turbines.

His passion springs from a desire make everything “better tomorrow than it is today” – a principle that now underpins his role as a Chartered Engineer and in supporting the company’s revolutionary multi-year transformation as a Change Maker.

Josh has led efforts to standardise practices across different parts of the business, ensuring the use of consistent technology for comparison. This aligns with the broader “One Rolls-Royce” vision, fostering consistent data collection and knowledge sharing across the organisation.

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Our transformation extends far beyond charts and words to manifesting in tangible action. The company’s culture has transitioned to a proactive ‘let’s find a way to make this work’ ethos, enabling us to more easily streamline complex processes.”

Josh embodies the crucial role of change specialist, providing the detailed knowledge necessary to bridge the gap between perceived and actual needs. He believes that “transformation has got to be built from the inside out.”

Josh’s journey from solving mechanical problems to leading pivotal digital and cultural transformation initiatives perfectly illustrates how an engineering mindset – rooted in problem-solving, efficiency, and continuous improvement – is ideally suited to driving Rolls-Royce’s transformation.

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