Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood has praised businesses and charities that support service leavers taking the next step in their career, following an event hosted by Deloitte UK.

Yesterday’s Officers’ Association Careers Forum provided the chance for personnel preparing to leave the military to hear more about the career opportunities open to them.

Ex-forces personnel who have successfully transitioned into the civilian workplace also attended to share advice and guidance, as well as employers and recruiters from a breadth of industries. Guests were encouraged to take part in breakout sessions on sectors such as financial services, cyber, construction and consultancy.

Minister for Defence People and Veterans Tobias Ellwood said:

I want to make sure our people have access to the opportunities they deserve, and I pay tribute to the organisations who do so much to support our service leavers as they begin the next chapter of their working lives.

Our armed forces offer a vast range of transferrable skills, and I urge all businesses to tap into this exceptional pool of talent.

Through the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), the MOD supports service leavers with one-to-one career guidance, vocational training, events, networking and employment opportunities for up to two years before they leave the armed forces. The Officers’ Association (OA) can provide additional one to one career support, advice and job opportunities.

CEO of the Officers’ Association Lee Holloway said:

All service leavers have skills and abilities much sought after by British businesses. Whilst employers recognise this, the OA will continue to champion the value and benefit of this military experience so that veterans are able to capitalise on their time in the Armed Forces.

93% of service leavers transitioning through the CTP who are seeking employment are in new roles within six months, and the recent Veterans Work: Moving On report, produced by Deloitte, the Officers’ Association and Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), has shown that veteran employment rates at 81% are far higher than the national average of 75.5%. The report looked at priorities for service leavers as they transition and their experiences of finding a job.

Partner at Deloitte and Chair of the Veterans Work Consortium Chris Recchia said:

Our recent study found veterans are highly employable due to the hard work, determination, flexibility in where they work and critically, a willingness to try a whole new career.

Deloitte was one of the first businesses to sign the Armed Forces Covenant – a pledge to ensure that the military community is treated fairly, and not disadvantaged by their service.

As part of their commitment to the armed forces, Deloitte has an active military network, which provides mentoring services, and regularly hosts Military Insight Days, where service leavers learn how to tailor their skills and experience to the civilian workplace.

The CTP provides a single point for all career support provided by businesses and charities, who enjoy a successful partnership where they can advertise workshops, insight days, employer engagement events and career opportunities.

The UKHO’s apprenticeship scheme received national recognition as Highly Commended in the ‘Large Employer’ category at the National Apprenticeship Awards last week. This follows its success in winning the Royal Navy Award for ‘Large Employer of the Year’ in the South West at the regional finals held in September, and another Highly Commended at the ‘STEM Inspiration Awards’ in November. The UKHO was among nine organisations shortlisted for the national ‘Large Employer’ category, for organisations with 250 to 4,999 employees.

Held in Old Billingsgate, London on Wednesday 28 November, the national awards were attended by employers and apprentices across the country, as well as the Minister of State for Apprenticeships and Skills, the Rt Hon Anne Milton MP, and the Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP. The evening celebrated outstanding apprentices, employers and individuals who go above and beyond to champion apprenticeships across the UK.

The UKHO’s apprenticeship scheme gives applicants an opportunity to gain an industry recognised qualification whilst getting hands on experience in the workplace as a paid employee. Since beginning its apprenticeship scheme back in 2016, the UKHO has worked to develop its offering and currently employs over 50 apprentices across a wide variety of roles.

Amy Carrillo, Head of People at the UKHO, commented:

We’re delighted our apprenticeships programme has been recognised in the National Apprenticeship Awards 2018. Our apprentices are a credit to themselves and to the whole organisation.

Our success has been dependent on collaboration across the organisation, building a close network between apprentices, line managers and the teams they work in, as well as the important role of our outstanding training providers.

Our apprentices and the skills they’re developing are essential to the future direction of our organisation. Since our first apprentice joined in 2016, we have grown our programme, both in numbers and variety. Today, approximately 7% of our work-force is made up of apprentices across digital, data and technology roles, as well as in management, finance, HR, marketing, customer services and more. Our broad offering is made up of a diverse mix of upskilling current staff and external talent, qualifications, age-ranges. This is a platform for us to further develop and expand our apprenticeship programme.

Dstl has been running a 12-week STEM returners programme aimed at giving experienced science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) professionals the confidence to step back in to their careers after taking time away.

Those involved have been working on challenging projects; in areas including cyber, information systems and defence and security analysis. Placements were also provided with the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA), which finds and funds innovative projects from a £800 million Defence Innovation fund.

Helen Christie, one of Dstl’s Talent Acquisition and Planning Advisers, said:

The skill set attracted has been excellent. It’s been brilliant to be able to help people who thought their technical expertise might never be used again in a workplace environment. Dstl is committed to a flexible supportive workplace so that people of all backgrounds and situations can succeed here and contribute to providing world-leading science and technology. The success of the 2018 STEM returners programme is definitely something we will be building on and therefore hope to run a similar programme next year. We are also encouraged by the positive experience expressed by each returner and we now hope that those involved will have the confidence to apply for a permanent role at Dstl.

STEM Returner, Tom Shuttleworth, has been working in the Physical Science Group within Dstl’s Platform Systems Division, said:

After taking voluntary redundancy from my previous employment I was considering early retirement, however for various reasons and boredom, it became apparent I needed to have a level of stimulation back. When I was offered a place on the STEM returners open day at Dstl, I jumped at the chance and was delighted when I was offered a placement. My role has been varied and challenging and involved producing a vital guidance document on the management of restricted materials. It’s been a fantastic experience and I would definitely recommend this kind of programme to others who have been out the work place for some time.

Ann Stanhope secured a place as a STEM Returner in the Support Services team with DASA, said:

I left a career in the semiconductor industry 20 years ago and wanted to get back in touch with technology. Working with DASA has been a very positive experience – I’ve learnt a lot about how the organisation works, carrying out a variety of tasks, some harder than others. The STEM Returners programme is very well run and dedicated to finding opportunities for people with different backgrounds.

STEM Returner Giles Moore and been working in Dstl’s Strategic Systems Group, and said:

My team leader gave me time to explore the organisation’s systems, build new relationships and come up with ideas of how I could contribute. I also had the opportunity to present my thoughts to the team halfway through my placement. I thought the best way to contribute was to work on knowledge and graph development because subject matter experts are always too busy to work on that sort of thing, and I think it’s important. It’s been a great experience.

Dstl is also leading the STEM Futures consortium and actively supports the STEM Returners programme, with both organisations having an overall intent to develop talent and enhance the S&T workforce.

Natalie Desty, Founder of STEM Returners said:

It has been a real pleasure to work with Dstl on this programme. Right from the outset Dstl recognised the huge value that returners had to offer and provided fantastic support and training to ensure their success. Returners find the barriers to return often insurmountable through standard recruitment channels, Dstl’s open minded, flexible and inclusive approach has successfully restarted careers and brought back valuable lost skills to the industry.

On the 70th anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights the Minister for Human Rights Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, hosted a panel discussion with Human Rights Defenders Dina Meza and Wanjeri Nderu, alongside Kate Allen, Director of Amnesty International UK. The meeting focussed on Human Rights Defenders who stand up for the rights of all persecuted communities around the world.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the UK supported over 240 Human Rights Defenders, training them in self-protection and collective protection strategies and providing legal assistance for their cases.

Britain is a global defender of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and democratic values, and has championed campaigns to end modern slavery and human trafficking, to prevent sexual violence in conflict, and to ensure at least 12 years of quality education for girls.

It was also announced that the UK will co-chair the Equal Rights Coalition in partnership with Argentina from June 2019.

Minster for Human Rights, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, said:

It is a modern tragedy that there are people in same-sex relationships around the world who are discriminated against, persecuted, and tortured because of their gender, faith, creed or sexual orientation.

Britain will continue to defend human rights, stand up for our values, and for the rights of communities who suffer around the world.

Notes to Editors

• The UK’s co-chairmanship will begin in June 2019 and last for two years.
• The Equal Rights Coalition includes the United Kingdom, Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States of America, Uruguay in working toward a vision of equality regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Further information

The Minister of State for Employment, Alok Sharma, has welcomed the best job figures on record – with 32.48 million people in work in the UK, more than ever before.

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the UK continues to have the best jobs market in decades with the unemployment rate at a near record 40 year low, 4.1% and employment rate at a joint-record of 75.7%.

The figures also show real wages are up for the ninth month in a row, with regular pay up 3.3% on the year – its fastest growth in almost a decade.

Today’s (11 December 2018) figures also reveal the youth unemployment rate has almost halved since 2010, with female employment at a near record high of 71.2%.

Minister of State for Employment Alok Sharma said:

Today’s statistics show the enduring strength of our jobs market, with wages outpacing inflation for the ninth month in a row and employment at a record high.

This is benefitting people across the country, with almost 400,000 more people in work in the last year. Putting more money in the pockets of working families, and showing the UK remains a great place to invest and do business.

Over 3.3 million more people have entered work since 2010, meaning an average of 1,000 more people in work every day. Sectors across the economy are benefiting, with 23,000 more manufacturing jobs in the last year and 22,000 more jobs in the hospitality sector.

The statistics also reveal three quarters of jobs created since 2010 are full time, permanent roles that are in higher skilled occupations, which typically bring higher earnings – all ambitions of the government’s Industrial Strategy which seeks to create better, well-paying jobs fit for the future.

The government is helping even more people benefit from a well-paid job by:

• backing businesses to create good jobs with our modern Industrial Strategy, while ensuring they play by the rules, so we are closing tax loopholes, strengthening workers’ rights, and tightening the rules big businesses must follow
• investing in the infrastructure, training and apprenticeships we need for our future, with public investment at the highest sustained level in 40 years
• introducing Universal Credit which is helping people move into work faster and stay in it longer, while recent Budget measures mean 2.4 million families will keep an extra £630 per year of what they earn
• helping people stay in work longer with our Fuller Working Lives strategy, which supports employers to recruit, re-train and retain older workers
• tackling inequalities in employment highlighted by the Race Disparity Audit, through targeted support in 20 areas around the country and £90 million announced by the Prime Minister to help young people
• arranging work experience sessions for students through Jobcentre Plus, in over 1,400 schools

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