A global leader in advanced engineering and innovative technology, delivering programme, project and engineering solutions across the UK’s nuclear and defence sectors, Amentum operates at the centre of some of the world’s most complex science, security and sustainability challenges – from new power station construction and advanced reactor development to decommissioning, remediation and defence infrastructure. With such a broad technical remit, innovation within the organisation had long been driven by scientific expertise, technology advancement and problem-solving capability.
Their in-house innovation scheme exposed a pattern: engineers created exceptional technological solutions but had little understanding of market requirements; project managers were strong technically but lacked confidence and experience in commercialisation. This resulted in ideas that were technically impressive but not always commercially viable – often taking longer than anticipated to become market ready. As the company pursued more ambitious growth targets, this disconnect began to constrain progress, highlighting the need for a shift towards a more balanced, market-focused approach.
To support this transition, FIS360 created a highly structured and supportive environment for product and service development, delivered through a tailored 9-month programme, which included:
This multi-layered approach enabled participants to develop the skills, behaviours and processes needed to transition from technical project management to market-led product development.
10
Cohort members with transferable commercialisation skills
8
Validated business cases
£ 10 m
Potential additional revenue
The programme helped strengthen Amentum’s internal innovation processes, supporting the creation of more structured investment and early-stage development pathways. Over the 9 months, participants produced eight validated business cases, each shaped by customer insights and commercial evidence. The shift in capability was tangible: a cohort of ten individuals developed transferable commercial skills, enabling them to apply customer-focused thinking across their wider roles.
Beyond individual development, the initiative seeded a more commercially aware innovation culture across the organisation. Participants identified new revenue models for existing technical solutions, with the potential to unlock over £10 million in additional revenue within 3 years. The mindset shift – from technical-led delivery to customer-centric problem-solving – also prompted valuable internal challenge around business models and innovation processes.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting increased clarity, confidence and strategic insight. Many described the programme as transformational for their careers, with one noting, “My outlook changed completely,” and another reflecting, “I wonder why we haven’t been running a programme like this every year.”
“It was hugely rewarding to work with such an enthusiastic, diverse team and to see how their thinking evolved over the course of the programme. The variety of projects and new customer-focused business models developed really came to the fore in an impressive day of final presentations to the wider business. This is just the start, the real work and opportunity is going forward from here.”
Janet Milne
Innovation Consultant, FIS360 Ltd
