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Careers in Energy, one of the Forces Employment Charity’s sector-specific events took place on Wednesday 28 February. Hosted by Jacobs, London, Service leavers, veterans, reservists and family members were introduced to demystify and be given a complete overview of the Energy sector, as well as introductions to 15 leading companies within this industry.

Careers in Energy – a hybrid event

The event, run in hybrid format welcomed guests from countries including the USA, Germany, Poland and Vietnam. Whilst these delegates couldn’t be there in person, they could still send in questions real-time to the themed panellist discussions, and take part in the virtual sessions including polling software, Menti. The eProgramme also provided live links through to speakers’ LinkedIn accounts for enabling online networking and is something to be continued for future ‘Careers in…’ events.

Careers in Energy brought together energy companies to promote:

their own military/pathway programmes
what they offer
how they differentiate from others
timelines for applications to the programmes and other direct entry opportunities.

Insights into lived experiences

Delegates had the opportunity to network throughout the day; especially with those who are veterans and already working with companies, sharing their own lived experiences. Talking to different employers, HR partners and hearing about their military programmes — all under one roof, offered a unique experience.

Gold sponsor, Centrica was present alongside silver sponsors, Chevron and Mott MacDonald – and bronze sponsor, Octopus Energy; all provided key speakers as the day unfolded.

Opening words

James Nash, Head of Sector for Energy and Power, Jacobs opened proceedings at Careers in Energy and underlined how energy is essential to our lives. Acknowledging that with a huge focus globally on decarbonisation, clean energy and a drive towards net zero, there is a skills shortage in the UK to support energy transition targets.

The sector is one of growth, with longevity and career investment a priority. Skills which veterans and the wider military community bring such as leadership, teamwork, adaptability and problem solving are very attractive to employers.

Our gold sponsor Centrica highlighted the drive in the engineering space and encouraged the community to bring their diversity to the sector.

Laura Blair, Head of Centrica’s Armed Forces Pathway shared:

“Centrica is delighted to be the gold sponsor of Careers in Energy; it was really important for us as a FTSE100 energy services and solutions company to get involved in events like this with the Forces Employment Charity.

“It’s a real opportunity to engage with and tap into Armed Forces talent, whether that’s a Service leaver, veteran, reservist or military family member. Centrica as a company recognises the vast and varied skill set that anyone from the Armed Forces can bring to business.

“The energy sector is a really interesting place to work at the minute, particularly because of the drive to net zero – and for the drive to net zero, we need diversity of experience within our workplace – and that exists within the Armed Forces community in spades.”

Employers at Careers in Energy

Delegates met with 17 different employers:

The Forces Pension Society was also in attendance to be on hand for any military pension advice.

Forces Employment Charity CEO, Alistair Halliday said:

“This really was a fabulous event to be present at. It was wonderful to see so many talented Service leavers, veterans and spouses in the room engaging so effectively with some great energy sector employers. The atmosphere was buzzy and businesslike, and it was clear that everyone left with a much clearer idea of the many roles and opportunities in this vibrant sector.

“Moreover, the employers were clearly impressed by the quality of the military talent available. It is so uplifting to be able to provide support like this, to improve awareness and understanding and increase the chances of our clients to reach their full potential, while ensuring more employers are motivated to offer great roles to ex-Forces people.”

Veteran, Tom Hunt added:

“Most of us from a young age wanted to serve in the Armed Forces from a young age, so we have not really looked at any other kind of job. Coming to things like this and just hearing from Service leavers themselves, who are now in senior roles in the energy sector, has helped me to think that it’s achievable and it’s quite encouraging to see that.

“Getting to chat with the speakers and learn what roles are available fires our imagination more than you think.

“Just keep an open mind. Bear in mind what your strengths are and try to play to those, but also keep your mind open as to what you find interesting.”

Military Spouse, Julia Barr – Commercial Manager at Mott MacDonald added her reflective thoughts to the day’s events:

“It’s been really fascinating to see all the different sectors and just to see how broad the energy industry is and the opportunities that there are.

“Military spouses have a bit of a history of being either underemployed or unemployed to a much greater extent than the general population. And yet there’s a whole raft of skills that are sat there at home that can be used in this kind of industry and other industries as well.

“I see myself as being there to showcase to both the military kind of partners and family community that it is possible to find balance between work life and family.”

Keep updated on future events

Sign up to the Forces Employment Charity’s newsletter to keep informed of future ‘Careers in…’ events and other career insight days, LinkedIn workshops etc.

Snapshot of future events:

26 March: Women into Employment, London
27 March: LinkedIn Essentials with Lincoln Coutts
17 April: Senior Executive Workshop and Networking
4 June: Careers in Finance – will be live soon for registrations!

We’re excited to announce that our work in Scotland is now delivered by a team of nine advisors and having obtained new funding we are increasing our delivery to those who need us the most.

During 2023, the Forces Employment Charity provided career support, training, and employment access to 21,977 people from the entire UK’s Armed Forces community; 1,695 of those being from Scotland. We offer lifelong support and guidance to Service leavers, reservists, veterans, or their families, regardless of their rank or reason for leaving. Thanks to the Veterans’ Foundation, we are now able to start providing support to veterans in contact with the justice system in Scotland. We are also providing more support to the families (including those bereaved) of Serving personnel and veterans in Scotland.

Service Leavers in Scotland

Teaming up with CTP, we offer a dynamic range of programmes and hands-on assistance tailored to each individual’s needs, guiding them through the transition from military to civilian life with confidence.

Our Employer Relationship Manager works closely with Employers across Scotland, and we work to identify and link suitable job opportunities through to the whole Armed Forces community. Employers are eager to harness the skills and qualifications gained during military service, and we’re here to help showcase the military community’s value. Through partnerships with leading companies, we ensure everyone’s talents are celebrated in the job market.

Our mission is clear: to empower anyone leaving their single Service to overcome any obstacle and embrace the next chapters with confidence. The Specialist Employment Consultant within our CTP Assist Programme in Scotland also offer personalised and comprehensive assistance. This is for wounded, injured, and sick Service leavers, providing access to job opportunities, tailored support, and practical tools to navigate paths forward.

Those who leave the Armed Forces early have a designated Early Service Leaver coordinator who is on hand to ensure they are linked in with the correct support from the CTP Future Horizons Programme. Whether they have served for a brief period or faced unforeseen challenges, we’re committed to helping all Early Service Leavers seek out new opportunities in a civilian career.

Our work with veterans

Through a thorough self-assessment, our dedicated employment advisors help to identify strengths held, address potential barriers to employment, embrace interests and goals that veterans are looking to achieve in both the short and long term. This enables us to provide specialist employment advice tailored to individual circumstances.

We realise that employment might not be the only need. Our employment advisors collaborate with a network of military charities to ensure clients are getting the correct specialised support from other organisations, addressing specific challenges such as health concerns, legal issues, debt or housing problems.

Dedicated employment advisors support veterans in accessing suitable training aligned with their career goals, and identifying relevant programs and available funding options. Reviewing and compelling job applications, including CVs and mastering interview skills is essential for securing employment opportunities.

We provide professional advice ensuring that a CV is Applicant Tracking System compliant, ensuring clients feel comfortable highlighting relevant experience, and providing detailed interview preparation, tailoring the interview preparation specific to the sector or employer.

In summary, our specialised support helps veterans navigate the employment market effectively, addressing their unique circumstances and aiding every step, from skills assessment to job applications and networking opportunities.

Veterans in the justice system – NOVA Scotland

Veterans who are in contact with the justice system often experience feelings of isolation and some of their challenges include homelessness, debt, physical and mental health issues as well as drug or alcohol misuse.

NOVA Scotland through Scott Muir (pictured) supports these vulnerable veterans in Scotland. We work collaboratively with Police Scotland, the Scottish Prison Service and Criminal Justice Social Work to offer a holistic, person-centred, approach to help deal with the issues they face.

We undertake a needs assessment for each individual and support them throughout their journey of change. Our overall aim is to enable veterans to live stable lives and to make a positive contribution to the communities in which they live and work.

Our knowledge of the support services available in Scotland, both through service charities and other third-sector organisations, enable us to ensure that the veteran gets the most appropriate help with any issues that they may be facing.

Supporting families in Scotland

Meresa Lewis (pictured) joins the Families Programme as an advisor. Her lived and professional experience, passion, and connections with military families, bring valuable skills and enhanced support to spouses and partners of Serving personnel and veterans in Scotland. Meresa provides mentoring, personalised career guidance, and practical employment support.

Meresa said:

“I am delighted to join the Forces Employment Charity at such an exciting time. As we launch the families project in Scotland, I am thrilled to be involved in contributing to life-changing support for all members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland. As a member of this community myself, I eagerly embrace the opportunity to empower others to make a lasting difference!”

Since its launch in 2019, the Families Programme has grown significantly. It has supported 1,844 spouses and partners (including divorced and bereaved) with their employment journey across the UK. We’ve helped our clients achieve successful outcomes linked to our efforts in advocating for this diverse talent pool by raising employer awareness and overcoming reluctance. Through collaborative efforts with our wider teams we work with employers to promote opportunities that align to the requirements of a military lifestyle and beyond.

The Families Programme is now five strong with highly skilled, dedicated advisors, all of whom are military spouses. Their empathy, compassion, and commitment to ensuring clients reach their full potential set the Families Programme apart in the sector. The Programme’s unwavering dedication, innovative approach, and contribution to promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace make it a model of excellence in the field.

Deputy CEO, Chloe Mackay adds:

“We are very pleased to have been able to strengthen our team in Scotland and be able to provide more, much needed, support for veterans and Armed Forces families at this time when we know the cost-of-living crisis is continuing to cause difficulty and hardship for many”

More information

Head to our website to find out about how we help, the events you can join and who to get in touch with for further help and advice.

To talk to an advisor simply register online, or to working with us as an employer, reach out to us through our employer’s interest form and a member of the team will be in touch with you.

New research reveals female members of the Forces community face more employment challenges than men.

Forces Employment Charity hosts flagship ‘Women into Employment’ event in response.

The Forces Employment Charity is committed to supporting all members of the military community, spanning all those who have served, as well as their loved ones. In order to ensure that female members of the community are sufficiently supported to succeed, the charity is holding its annual Women into Employment Event (WIE24). Entry is free and will be hosted at UBS in London on Tuesday 26 March, from 10:00 – 18:00.

Research shows that women who have served are more than twice as likely to be economically inactive (20% compared with 9% for male veterans) and face more barriers to employment than men.

New research by the Forces Employment Charity reveals that female veterans suggest their biggest barrier to finding civilian work is recognising their own transferable skills they have to offer. 62% of female ex-Forces commented that they sometimes underestimated the skills they developed during their military career, compared to only 56% of male veterans. Further findings reveal that women are also more likely to deselect themselves from roles they could be suitable for.

Sadly, 72% of female veterans said they had found their transition to ‘civvy street’ harder than they expected it to be (compared with 63% of men). Moreover, 65% of women who had served, reported to have felt a loss of identity since leaving their Forces role behind them.

When female partners and spouses of serving personnel were asked, 1 in 6 stated that the impact on their career was the hardest thing about being in the Forces community, with the top barrier to employment being frequent house moves (25%), closely followed by not having close networks nearby (22%).

Female partners were also significantly less optimistic about their employment opportunities, with only 20% of women stating that they thought things were improving for military partners, compared to 36% of male partners.

This year’s WIE24 event focusses on helping women to recognise their worth and harness their full potential. It also offers valuable and unique access to employment opportunities from across a variety of industries, with companies who recognise the talent the military community has to offer.

Chaired by former BBC senior political reporter and BFBS journalist, Sian Grzeszczyk, the event has a full programme including:

Interactive sessions on how channel potential and structure the steps to advance career pathways,
Top tips from industry speakers and HR Teams to help maximise job applications.
Breakout sessions with expert panellists.
Opportunities to meet with talent teams from around 20 companies including UBS, Octopus Energy, Centrica, QINETIQ, Amazon, Jacobs, BNY Mellon, National Cyber Forces.
Complimentary photography session with professional photographer to update headshot for LinkedIn.

Forces Employment Charity CEO, Alistair Halliday, says the impact of the Women Into Employment event can be ‘life-changing’.

Alistair Halliday, Chief Executive at the Forces Employment Charity, says: “We have known for some time that female veterans face additional challenges in finding employment and this new research bears this out. We need to improve our support for the female members of the Forces community, whether that be those who have served, or those whose partners are members of the Military, so that employers can benefit from harnessing the talents of this remarkable group.

“The Forces Employment Charity is there to support every member of the Armed Forces Community with more than 10 unique programmes dedicated to offering support, tailored to each individual’s goals and needs. As part of our services, we are proud to offer a suite of programmes and events that are led by women who are either ex-Military, or are partners of those who are serving. Therefore, everything we do to support our female community is rooted not only in exceptional expertise, but also lived experience.

“We are delighted to continue to offer WIE24. For some who have attended the event in the past, the impact has been life-changing.”

Forces Employment Charity client, Ingrid Rolland, found a new career after attending the Women Into Employment event.

Army Reservist, Ingrid Rolland, was seeking a career change and attended last year’s Women into Employment event, following a recommendation from her Military Women Programme Employment Advisor at the Forces Employment Charity.

After hearing a presentation from one of the speakers, a representative from Centrica, Ingrid was inspired to investigate job opportunities within the company and successfully secured a role of Offshore Operations Supervisor.

When speaking about her decision to attend the Ingrid, she says: “It’s the best decision I ever made. If I’d missed that opportunity, I don’t think I’d be where I am today. The event was targeted at all levels – whether you want to be a smart gas engineer or a CEO, there was a range of opportunities. It’s a really great event.”

Commenting on her new role and career prospects, she concludes: “I’ve got a huge and exciting future ahead of me, in an industry I didn’t really know existed, in a role I definitely didn’t know was possible to do. I genuinely couldn’t have found anything more perfect. Thank you!”

If you would like to get involved in upcoming Forces Employment Charity events, register your interest here.

Sources:

Female veterans face more barriers to employment than male veterans.
Women were more likely to cite lack of confidence (17% compared with 12%) and family commitments (10% versus 6%) as barriers to career progression than men.
Research undertaken by OnePoll on behalf of the Forces Employment Charity between 8th to 22nd November 2023.

Next month will see our Careers in Energy 2024 event in motion and registrations are still open to join us on 28 February to explore a career in this sector! Read Ingrid Rolland’s story of when she joined Centrica on 25 September as an Offshore Operations Supervisor, as a result of attending a Forces Employment Charity (FEC) event last year.

Where did you hear about Centrica and what attracted you to the company?

I attended a FEC event sponsored by Centrica that was focussed on supporting women across defence who were looking for new roles. The initial presentation given by Chris O’Shea outlined not only the company’s ambitious net zero targets but also highlighted its ethos, values and support networks. I recognised a number of positive parallels between the company and defence and immediately felt that Centrica was a company that I would like to be a part of. I also attended the Centrica Sustainability workshop, which outlined the future of the 47/3B offshore gas storage platform and the plans for transitioning to hydrogen storage. I found the prospect of working offshore to be really exciting and it felt like exactly the right job for me.

Describe your current role with Centrica

I am training to be an Offshore Operations Supervisor and from February, I will be working on the two weeks on, three off shift system on the platform. Travel to the platform is by helicopter and accommodation is in 2-person rooms. I will be overseeing the Operations Technicians who ensure that the day-to-day running of the operation is carried out safely and in line with our business standards. Since I started, I have been fully supported in both attending numerous courses to gain mandatory industry standard qualifications and also with on-the-job training at the onshore gas processing terminal to gain operational experience.

How easy is it to balance your ongoing Reservist commitments with your new role at Centrica?

My new employers have been supportive allowing me to be able to attend all Army Reserve training that I have needed to do. The process to record my time out of work is simple, and days are taken as paid leave. I feel that my service is valued by the company and is proactively facilitated by my line manager.

What advice would you give someone from the Armed Forces community who is interested in exploring careers at Centrica?

The breadth of roles across the Centrica Group is vast and there will be something here for everyone. The Ex-Forces Pathway is a great initiative that actively engages with defence as there is a genuine interest from within the company to harness the skills and experience of military personnel and to offer them a valued career. I have found the transition to my new role to be exceptionally rewarding, feeling welcome from day one, and I have no regrets about the move. Additionally, I have been able to participate wider than my core role (eg taking part in the volunteering initiative, utilising the health and fitness wellbeing facilities and supporting a STEM activity for local primary schools).

If you are interested in a career in the energy industry, I absolutely recommend Centrica to you.

Careers in Energy

Everyone from the Armed Forces community can attend Careers in Energy – Service leavers, reservists, veterans and military family members. Register online today!

We are excited to be delivering this event in partnership with Jacobs and welcoming Centrica as our Gold employer.

See also: Women into Employment 2024 – 26 March 2024, UBS London

Note: The events page URL refers to the Officers Association (OA) and this is due to when RFEA and the OA combined to become the Forces Employment Charity. Our data storage is a legacy package that will be updated as our systems are evolved. You can read more about our story online.

Want to explore next steps in your career during 2024? Are you a Service leaver, veteran, partner/spouse or an older son/daughter? Register today to join our flagship event – Women into Employment 2024 (WIE24)!

Tuesday 26 March
UBS London
From 10:00-18:00

Register online today to attend!

What’s different for WIE24

As the Forces Employment Charity (FEC) moves the conversation forward for 2024, the emphasis for the day will be on channelling your superpower, knowing your worth and something that’s common for many… overcoming imposter syndrome.

We are widening the scope of sectors we are engaging with! Our expert panellists will explore employment opportunities in the following sectors:

sustainability/social impact
creative industries
government and the third sector
self-employment

Your top five reasons to join WIE24

Join an interactive session on how to channel your superpower and advance on your career pathway
Gather top tips from our industry spotlight speakers, hearing directly from the HR teams to gain insight and advice on how to maximise your application
Engage in some inspiring conversations in breakout sessions – choose two sessions out of four with experts in their field as our panellists
Meet up to 20 companies and their talent teams during the afternoon in the marketplace and hear about different opportunities and pathways available
Update your professional headshot for your LinkedIn account, a complimentary offer for you to take away with you by our professional photographer, Terry Benson

Ingrid Rolland, a Reservist in the British Army attended our 2023 event:

“If I’d missed that opportunity (to join WIE23) I don’t think I’d be where I am today. It’s a really, really great event. The number of companies you managed to pull together for that specific event, targeted at all levels… using Centrica as an example here – whether you wanted to be a smart gas engineer through to a CEO, there was a range of opportunities there — and not just targeted at women leaving the Armed Forces. As a reservist, it was great for me and I know you were targeting partners/military spouses and their older sons and daughters too so it ticked all the boxes and was a great event!”

What’s in store during the morning

In addition to the morning’s agenda of inspiring speakers, make sure you take time to meet these organisations who will be in the arrivals area. They can help you strengthen your career preparation toolkit:

Career Pursuit – pick up your free guide to take home and use!
X-Forces Enterprise – helping you nurture your entrepreneurial ambition
The Milspo Business Network ™ – join an inclusive online global community
Military Coworking Network – offering coworking spaces and an online network
Forces Employment Charity – free, personalised career coaching for the whole military community
Forces Pension Society – to guide, campaign and educate us all on our military pensions!
The Warrior Programme – many say it’s life-changing!

WIE24 afternoon breakout themes

Join us in two of the afternoon breakout sessions which you select on event registration:

Careers in creative industries OR
Careers in sustainability/social impact
Careers in government and third sector OR
Careers in self-employment

Employers at WIE24

We are grateful to be working in partnership with UBS and we thank them for providing the amazing venue this year.

Gold sponsor: Octopus Energy
Silver sponsors: Centrica, Qinetiq
Bronze sponsor: Jacobs
Marketplace employers (during the afternoon): Aviva, GE Aerospace, GSK, Hugh James, London Business School

More employers will be added shortly!

Talk to an FEC advisor

If you would like to talk to a career advisor ahead of this event, register with us as a client and a member of the FEC team will be in touch.

Joanne McLeod, EM3 Programme Manager (pictured right with some of the EM3 team), reflects on the successes of the EM3 Veterans and Families programme and our key takeaways as we look to the future.

In 2022, the Forces Employment Charity became the delivery partner for EM3. EM3 was a new initiative by the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, partly funded by the European Social Fund. The mission was to deliver prosperity through innovation. The aim was to empower veterans, Service leavers, their partners, and for the first time, their children by providing them with the necessary skills to excel in various sectors and industries. These sectors included digital, medical, gaming, medical science, sustainable low-carbon construction, space and satellite.

Our experienced advisors tailored services to each individual on the programme. We offered a combination of practical employment support, accredited training, corporate mentoring, and more. Our expert advisors helped clients showcase how their skills and values fit within the workforce, empowering them to stand out.

A heartfelt thank you

As the programme comes to an end, we sincerely thank all the employers, training, and education providers who supported us on this incredible journey. Collaborations ranged from the creation of the Alternative Routes into Employment Webinar series to professional mentoring. We also marked Remembrance Day in schools through our Poppy Pebbles campaign.

What do we take with us?

The EM3 Veterans and Families programme has enhanced our understanding of how to tap into the unique skillset of this community to overcome the increasing skills gap. The programme also enabled us to extend our support to young people from Forces Families. We are excited to be taking this learning forward to help more families and young people in the future.

If you are an employer looking to hire Service leavers, veterans, or military family members, you can get in touch here.

If you are a military veteran, partner, spouse, young person or family member, we can still support you. Register today.

The Forces Employment Charity, among other military charities, were invited to No.10 Downing Street on Monday 27 November, to join the Rt Hon Johnny Mercer, the Minister of State for Veterans’ Affairs of the UK, and Mrs Murty, the Prime Minister’s wife. The day brought everyone together to say thank you to the charities who have done so much to support veterans over this last Remembrance period.

Johnny Mercer added as part of his speech* to those present:

“I am always incredibly proud of the veteran community and how they get the balance right. The way they remember the families who are obviously not with us anymore. I know it means a hell of a lot to those families and a huge thank you to you for that as well. Your commitment to this nation is unmatched. The sacrifice that really those of us who haven’t been injured or bereaved by conflicts will never really understand the scale of that sacrifice and we want to do events like this to try and get over to you the Prime Minister’s gratitude and the nation’s gratitude for everything you’ve done over the years.”

Forces Employment Charity Chief Executive, Alistair Halliday reflected through his post on LinkedIn:

“It was very special being at No.10 for this event celebrating military charities and truly amazing to be among some inspiring veterans we have supported and who are now in fabulous roles with great employers. It really is wonderful to celebrate the military talent from all parts of the military community.”

To find out more about the work of the Forces Employment Charity, join our mailing list today.

*Source: X/Twitter

We are pleased to announce the launch of our brand-new podcast, which went live on Friday, 24 November…Forces Employment Charity: The Podcast. Cathrine Slaatta presents this inaugural episode titled, ‘Keeping motivated on the job hunt’ and features its CEO, Alistair Halliday and Veterans Support Employment Manager, Kevin Grist.

The podcast explores incredible stories, insights, and resources that empower Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families in their quest for meaningful careers and fulfilling lives. Throughout the series, we emphasise the importance of resilience, camaraderie, and the indomitable spirit that defines our military community.

The first episode investigates the hurdles Service leavers and veterans encounter in their job search, exchanging personal stories and motivational strategies. Our conversation delves into harnessing the distinctive strengths of veterans and emphasising the importance of a support system and resilience.

Alistair Halliday highlighted three key aspects in interviews:

“What are people after in an interview? Firstly, can you do the job? Secondly, do you want the job? And third, will you fit in? Understanding the culture and environment of the organisation you are looking to go into is very important. For employers, it is a different message. This is an amazing talent pool of individuals; you don’t have to feel sorry for them. It is not about welfare or corporate social responsibility; it is just good business, and it is good for the bottom line. If you have Service leavers and veterans come into your organisation, they are going to show all these skills, be resilient, be great team players, and they are going to deliver when you need it or when you least expect it.”

Forces Employment Charity: The Podcast serves as an extended avenue of support. We strive to offer steadfast assistance by connecting veterans and military families with job opportunities and delivering invaluable training and resources. Join us as we celebrate stories of strength, success, and service!

Consider supporting the podcast by subscribing to the Forces Employment Charity’s YouTube channel.

Get involved

Participate in discussions and explore a treasure trove of resources within your reach: Register for our newsletter today.

In December, Carols will be sung when the City Veterans CIC hosts its Christmas Carol Service, and the Forces Employment Charity is delighted to be part of this festive occasion as their partner. The service will be taking place on 13 December at the Royal Military Chapel (The Guards’ Chapel) and will be in support of Scotty’s Little Soldiers, who work to ensure long-term support for bereaved military children.

Our work with City Veterans CIC

We are proud to work alongside the City Veterans, as a key partner, whose work aligns closely with the objectives and aims of the Forces Employment Charity. We collaborate to work with the veteran community and employers across the financial and professional services to promote the benefits of employing veterans. Service leavers are also signposted to employment opportunities across the City and support the ongoing collaboration between the military community and organisations.

Scotty’s Little Soldiers

Also, the added arm of City Veterans CIC includes fundraising and supporting many different charities, which very much follows the military ethos of helping others and giving back to the community. This year’s chosen charity for the Carol Service is Scotty’s Little Soldiers to remember those who served and who are sadly no longer with us; particularly poignant for the families left behind at this special time of the year.

About the Forces Employment Charity

The FEC employs 186 staff delivering direct support to help our clients achieve their full potential through 14 different programmes. We provide life-long, life-changing support, jobs, networking and training opportunities to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and military families (including those bereaved) – regardless of circumstances, rank, length of service or reason for leaving. The last 12 months have seen us reaching approximately 25,000 clients; 598 of those being military spouses/partners (and continuing to rise).

We also work in partnership with other organisations and employers who, like us, respect and value the unique qualities and abilities of all those in the Armed Forces community. As such, we have linked with over 9,000 employers, sharing a whopping 115,012 job opportunities.

After our recent Careers in Professional Services event in September 2023, we received feedback on social media:

“A fantastic day. I was blown away by the information I received throughout the day and having the ability to meet and make contacts with people from the Big 4 was invaluable. Also meeting the FEC team and chatting with them, realising that not only can you help me, but you can also help my kids as they transition out of Uni life. Great day all round and thank you.”

Thank you

City Veterans are hugely grateful to the supporters and sponsors of the Carol Service: St James’s Place, Citi, J&B Wines, Hannam & Partners, Partners Group, Saab and the officers and soldiers at Wellington Barracks. Unfortunately as the event is held on MOD property, it is by invitation only. If you are interested in being placed on the waiting list or joining us next year, please get in touch with the team at City Veterans on [email protected]

See also: sign up to our Forces Employment Charity newsletter

Rewarding veterans in business, fitness, sport, and the wider community

The Forces Employment Charity is partnering with and sponsoring the Northern Ireland Veterans Awards 2023!

Northern Ireland boasts a remarkable community of highly accomplished Armed Forces veterans who have transitioned successfully from military to civilian life. These awards are a testament to their outstanding achievements in various fields and serve as beacons of inspiration for future service leavers.

Alana Surgenor, Regional Employment Advisor for the Ex-Forces Employment Programme, said: “Forces Employment Charity takes pride in supporting ex-forces personnel in Northern Ireland to help them understand, showcase and sell the amazing skills that come from having a service background. The veterans from Northern Ireland have always been and continue to be resilient and tenacious with a strong work ethic, that would no doubt, bring a lot to any employer. Forces Employment Charity is proud to sponsor this year’s Northern Ireland Veterans Awards after the success of the first one last year. It is a wonderful opportunity to thank the hardworking and helpful individuals who continue to show how important veterans are within the community of Northern Ireland.”

Individuals of any nationality can apply, provided they are based and operate in Northern Ireland.

If you believe a business, individual, or client deserves recognition for their accomplishments, we encourage you to nominate them for the Northern Ireland Veterans Awards!