Tri-Service

Poll: Gaining Work After Leaving The Forces

16,000 people leave the services every year, and while some slip seamlessly into the civilian workplace, many struggle to find a second rewarding career.

Now a new report, titled "Veterans Work", reveals the attitudes of 300 of the UK's large and medium-size employers towards hiring service-leavers.

The research was carried out by Corporate giant Deloitte, in collaboration with Armed Forces charities the Forces in Mind Trust and the Officers' Association.

The report found that 71% of employers said they would consider hiring veterans, but only 39% would hire somebody without industry experience.

That reveals a difference between what companies say they'll do and what actually happens, highlighting a "stark disconnect between the rhetoric and the reality" of veteran employment. That's despite evidence that suggests veterans add significant value to any company.

In Numbers:

71% of employers said they would consider employing veterans

39% would employ someone without industry specific experience

36% of businesses find it hard to fill roles demanding strategic management skills

32% of businesses struggle to fill positions involving management and motivating staff

30% of businesses struggle to fill positions requiring team working

95% of companies that employ veterans say they are particularly strong in communication, planning and time management

100% of companies that employ veterans say they are strong at teamworking

53% of businesses that employ veterans promote them more quickly than the rest of the workforce

According to the report, 53% of organisations that have employed veterans say they tend to be hardworking, take fewer sick days and are promoted quickly.

Even though companies are struggling to find qualities such as leadership, teamwork and communication in the workforce, some don't recognise those skills in the veteran community, which are there in abundance. According to Deloitte, that constitutes a "business fail".

Companies all too often believe the narrative that veterans who've served in recent conflicts are in some way "damaged" by their service. Veterans in turn face stereotypes while looking for work, and often end up in low-paid, low-skilled, routine jobs, such as security or factory work.

Air Vice-Marshall Ray Lock, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust said:

"This report provides clear evidence that this focus is masking the true value that the vast majority of service leavers can bring to employers, who stand, literally, to profit from the extraordinary qualities veterans possess. It is time to stop looking on ex-service personnel as victims and as charity cases; they're talented and determined men and women, with rich experiences, readily transferable skills and proven loyalty and dedication".

The report says the old attitudes must change.

Deloitte Partner Chris Recchia said: "We have a collective responsibility to get this right. The framework for veterans to gain employment is in place but we want to build on the work already done.

"It is not just about the push from veterans into corporate life, it should also be about the pull from organisations who recognise what veterans have to offer."

"We need to put into place a level playing field and shine a light on the challenges some veterans face to secure employment... our research demonstrates that employing veterans is an act of business, not charity."

The report did find that 72% of employers with active ex-military recruitment programmes would recommend employing veterans.

The report recommends that policymakers should consider a national strategy to create a better understanding of what veterans bring to the workplace. It also recommends business leaders should drive a shift in attitude, recognising the benefits of hiring service-leavers.

That would probably require a step-change towards forward-facing recruitment; looking at future potential rather than past experience - "It's not where you're from, it's where you're going that's important".