People who have served in the United Kingdom armed forces for at least one year will automatically get an interview when applying for jobs with some Public Service Departments.
The policy, which came into effect earlier this month, potentially opens up a talent pool of more than two million veterans, who will have a greater chance of securing jobs within the Government.
It applies to all recruitment campaigns run by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Office and the Home Office, including the UK Border Force.
The move has been welcomed by employment groups and veterans’ charities, which have called for the scheme to be extended beyond the public sector.
Senior Resourcing and Inclusion Adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Claire McCartney said veterans typically had many transferable skills, including strategic thinking, leadership and problem-solving, which were valuable to the Public Service.
Chief Executive of armed forces charity, SSAFA, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew Gregory said the initiative should be adopted more broadly in the public sector and in business, opening additional doors for veterans to demonstrate their value to society.
There are around 2.2 million veterans in the UK, and 15,000 people leave the armed forces each year.
Around 60 per cent of those leaving each year are under 35, and most are looking to start a new career.
Employment and Skills Director at Business in the Community, Nicola Inge welcomed the move, but said making sure veterans were interviewed for Public Service jobs needed to be part of a bigger picture.
“Veterans are just one group of many that are being pushed away from the job market; those at risk of homelessness or those who come from left-behind areas need support too,” Ms Inge said.
London, 9 October 2020
