The UK's Top Forces-Friendly Employers Hiring Ex-Military Engineers in 2022

Ex-military engineers are qualified and experienced in a breadth of engineering specialties and even without engineering experience behind them, ex-military personnel bring a wealth of unique ‘soft’ skills to commercial employers.

AESSEAL

As a military friendly organisation, and as staunch supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant, AESSEAL utterly supports the concept of hiring from the military talent pool. Bringing a plethora of transferable skills to their organisation, such as honed leadership and management, a strong work ethic along with reliability, diligence and tenacity, they truly believe that their business culture sets the conditions for ex-military personnel to thrive in industry. As it stands, their cohort of ex-military employees have all added significant value to the business, whilst equally contributing to skills shortages faced in wider industry. From leadership, strategic management, and adaptability, to motivation, coaching and mentoring,  ex-military personnel are an extremely valuable commodity. To find out more about AESSEAL and discover current vacancies, click here.

ALSTOM 

Alstom is the UK & Ireland’s leading supplier of new trains, train services, and signalling equipment. They employ 6000 people, designing, building and testing trains at Derby, the UK’s largest train factory; and operating major sites at Widnes, Crewe, Ilford and Plymouth, and 30 train services depots across the UK and Ireland. Alstom have built, or are building, just under 40% of the UK mainline train fleet; as well as the entire fleets in service with London Underground and Overground. 66% of mainline fleet services are supported by Alstom staff -from Pendolino to Elizabeth line. As Silver Award winners of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, they are proud supporters of veterans, reservists and military spouses and are actively looking to employ from this unique talent pool. Alison Knight, Head of Talent said: "We're looking for people who are leaving the Armed Forces with transferable skills we can put to good use in the projects that we are involved with, whether that is working on manufacturing and testing new rolling stock for UK and export, decarbonising Britain’s railways through innovative technologies, or keeping Britain’s trains moving from over 30 sites across the country. As the country demands smarter and greener mobility we need to fill the skills gaps that exist in engineering, digital and design and it makes sense for us to tap into the skills and experience of Armed Forces personnel.” To search for engineering opportunities at Alstom, click here.

ATLANTAS MARINE 

Atlantas Marine has just been awarded Bronze from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, with eyes already on scooping the Silver Award. This year, Atlantas Marine, has hired a former clearance diver and ROV operator with the Royal Navy, who is a Project Leader and a former Royal Marine, who is Head of Operations. Managing Director, Charlie Foll, said: “The Armed Forces Community offer personnel with qualities, such as the ability to learn quickly, inquisitive, reliable, drive to get the job done well, and are great team players. These qualities hugely help when building the team.” For a relatively small company, they have a high volume of employees from the Armed Forces Community, from veterans, to military spouses - and although not actively recruiting right now - they do plan to recruit from the military talent pool in the future - so watch this space. For more information about Atlantas Marine, click here.

BABCOCK INTERNATIONAL

Babcock International Group is a leading employer of Service leavers and reservists, awarded Gold in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for their dedication to employing and supporting the Armed Forces Community. Babcock helps military and civil customers around the world to cost effectively improve the capability, reliability and availability of their most critical assets. 

They know in your military career, you have been committed to helping create a safe and secure world too. That’s why Babcock would like to hear from you. The skills and experience you have gained during your Service could be the perfect fit to help them support their customers. 

They have an enviable track record of supporting service leavers into challenging and rewarding careers and we can help you make the transition too. Wouldn’t you want to live in a world where people, populations and the planet thrive? Where technology protects rather than threatens. Where societies feel safe and secure. Where cities and continents feel part of one global community. 

Babcock is an international aerospace, defence and security company, with sites all-round the UK, that do loads of exciting and important things to make the world safer and more secure. They defend nations, save lives and protect communities around the globe.

The skills and experience you have gained during your Service could be the perfect fit to help them support their military customers. They know that Service Leavers have the skills they value. Babcock offers many benefits to Service Leavers and Reservists, including:

• Guaranteed interview as long as you meet the minimum requirements for the role

• Up to 10 days of special paid leave for reservist duties

• Training

• Career opportunities and progression

• Employee Share Ownership Scheme

• Occupational Health Services

• Salary Sacrifice benefits e.g. childcare vouchers; cycle to work scheme

With a variety of vacancies across the UK, Babcock has challenging and rewarding opportunities waiting for you. If you are considering a new career then visit their website and register to receive job adverts at https://jobs.babcockinternational.com/talentcommunity/subscribe/ or email: armedforcescareers@babcockinternational.com for more information.

CAPITA

Capita delivers more than 60 contracts to Defence clients and employs more than 600 veterans and reserves working across all areas of their business. Hundreds of Capita colleagues – from firefighters, to Army recruiters, to Navy trainers – work hand-in-hand with uniformed colleagues to deliver critical services for the defence of the nation. Capita are proud Gold standard signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant, offering an additional 10 days’ paid leave for their serving reserve colleagues. 

Opportunities for engineers run across their Defence contracts and beyond. Working closely with Government and its strategic communications infrastructure partners, Capita’s secure networking business Electranet provides a broad spectrum of infrastructure services, delivering and supporting secure, resilient networks and installing AV, CCTV and related security solutions. They operate in some of the most challenging and exciting spaces and provide opportunities for people to develop in this niche market.  Find out more here.

Beyond Defence, they deliver the Gas Safe Register contract on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive. They protect the public from unsafe gas work by ensuring regular inspections of Gas Safe registered engineers. Their national investigations team looks into any reports of unsafe gas work and helps to track down illegal gas workers. They’ve been developing new virtual inspection events, and their inspectors and technical support officers are using video technology which enables customers or engineers to call live from on site.  Check out one of Capita’s open roles here.

Richard Holroyd, managing director, Capita Defence, Fire and Security, said: “We are proud to support our serving reserves and veterans. At Capita we value the unique insights and expertise our Armed Forces families bring to all our work, not only in Defence but throughout our public and private sector businesses.” Find out more about all Capita vacancies here.

DRUMGRANGE LIMITED

Drumgrange Ltd is a thriving independent UK defence contractor specialising in the design, development, integration and through-life support of Communications and Electronic Systems. Drumgrange is looking to hire from the military talent pool because, as an engineering company that operates within the defence and security industry, they value the unique perspective Service leavers can bring to the business, as many of them would have had first-hand knowledge of how their products are used in the field. They also highly value the skills and experiences Service leavers possess; teamwork, adaptability, and a keenness to hit the ground running.

Drumgrange actively makes an effort to recruit Service leavers, whether by participating in events such as the CTP Recruitment Fair or by utilising the network of Service leavers currently employed by the company. Service Leavers currently make up almost 20% of their workforce, and it is a figure that they hope will continue to grow. They support successful veteran applicants by providing a competitive benefits package, which includes a relocation allowance, an attractive company pension scheme, private medical cover and access to occupational health support. There are a variety of roles available at Drumgrange, such as Field Service Engineer, Electronics Engineer, and Security Systems Engineer, but they always welcome applications from experts in the areas of mechanical design and ruggedisation, signal processing, GNSS, precise navigation system, electronic design, and acoustics. 

Silver Award winners of the MoD Employer Recognition Scheme, with a dedicated Reserves Policy and a Flexible Working Policy for military spouses, not only do they support veterans - they are advocates for the whole of the Armed Forces Community. You can find out more about how Drumgrange supports the Armed Forces Community in this video. And to discover opportunities at Drumgrange, click here.

FORSBERG SERVICES

Forsberg Services provide off the shelf and bespoke solutions to overcome positioning, navigation and timing challenges by applying expertise in system integration, electronic and mechanical engineering and software solutions. They operate across a broad range of markets, with an emphasis on defence applications, and are always looking to expand their engineering team. Forsberg is a Forces-Friendly business, employing veterans and reservists in a range of job roles and continue to search for talent from the military community. Their latest and current engineering vacancies include; Electronics Engineer, Geomatics Engineer and Software Development Manager, alongside these available positions, they can offer work experience and apprenticeship opportunities for individuals with a passion and drive for electronics.

Jim Waite, Sales Director, said: “Employing talent from the military community aligns perfectly with our company values. Ex-Service personnel are proactive, accountable and adaptable and bring with them a wealth of experience and transferable skills which we value highly.” Forsberg is a progressive and highly adaptable business that provides excellent reward and career development for individuals who embrace their culture. Expanding their diversity and inclusive culture is an integral part of Forsberg’s strategy as members of the Tech Talent Charter and of course, the Armed Forces Covenant, proudly supporting those who serve. Also, as co-founding members of the Electech innovation cluster, they’re working to bridge the electronic and technical skills gap, aiming to provide social and economic benefits to the local area by enabling growth of the Electech sector. To find out more about Fosberg’s engineering opportunities, click here.

GRUNDON WASTE MANAGEMENT 

Grundon is the UK’s largest family-owned supplier of integrated waste management and environmental services, operating from numerous depots and offices across the South of England. They own and operate a range of industry-leading, state-of-the-art treatment facilities, enabling them to offer their customers the most modern, compliant and environmentally friendly methods of recycling and waste disposal.

As a fast-growing business, they have roles available to suit a variety of skills, including mechanics, engineering and LGV drivers. Grundon understands members of the Armed Forces Community develop many skills during their military service which are transferable into civilian employment, having received some of the world’s best training and personal development. They also believe that many skills they’re looking for are perfectly aligned with those learnt during military service. They currently have permanent opportunities for experienced HGV Mechanics to join their in-house fleet team based at their well-equipped workshops, as well as numerous HGV driving roles across their operating area.

Veteran Paul Colling joined Grundon in 2017 as a Transport Trainer: “Grundon allowed me to have the perfect transition to civilian life. I joined the Army straight from school and when I left almost 17 years later, I had to try to find a place that would accept me with all my injuries and problems. Grundon didn’t even flinch. I met the owner Neil Grundon at an event and asked him for advice on civilian life and how I could fit in. Neil put me in touch with Grundon’s HR team who kindly met with me and gave me advice on writing my CV. This led to them offering me a permanent job in their Transport Training team. 

“Grundon allowed me time to learn my new role and have since supported me with numerous courses to progress my career. Elsewhere, they have given me days off to allow me to support charities and have donated to military charities by topping up our fundraisers.” To discover current vacancies at Grundon, click here. 

ITB

ITB Competence Assurance Limited (ITB) is a market leader in supporting individuals leaving the Armed Forces who are looking for a career in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering within either the global Oil and Gas or Offshore Wind and Onshore Wind sectors. ITB and its sister company ‘lives’ to the military covenant values and has secured a link with ELCAS that will support individuals and their families’ transition with success and ease. 

ITB ensures every Service leaver receives the market sector intelligence to appreciate and understand why the skills they possess are easily transferable as well as supporting them in their integration into a new global career opportunity. They share their wealth of experience, and have close links with industry, with the owners of ITB veterans who have successfully transitioned into civvy street and built strong commercial relationships with organisations. If you have a mechanical or electrical background, let ITB help you understand more of what they can do for you and how you - and your family, can successfully build a new and rewarding career. Click here for more information.

LOTHIAN BUSES

Lothian Buses provides bus services across Edinburgh and the Lothians, connecting the region with over 70 services and more than 700 buses, which run day and night throughout the year. The engineering function within Lothian Buses has a range of job roles available which are well-suited to ex-military personnel and reservists. Silver Award winners of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, Lothian is proud to have supported Service leavers to secure jobs and they understand the unique experience Armed Forces personnel can bring to their organisation and the key skills they look for in members of their team, including teamwork, communication, decision-making, problem-solving, organisation and time management. As well as ex-military personnel, reservists are an important part of their organisation. You can find out more about their commitment to the Armed Forces Community in our Employer Spotlight here. Lothian has a number of engineering opportunities to fill right now - to find out more, click here.

MASTERFIX

Masterfix is a multi-trade property maintenance services covering residential, commercial, retail and hospitality, routine maintenance tasks and refurbishment projects. They understand the value people with a Service background bring to their fast-paced and dynamic business. A cool head under pressure is an invaluable asset, as is quickly adapting to any issue that might arise even in an unfamiliar environment. The standout quality they find ex-forces personnel bring to their business is an uncompromising dedication to high standards. Nick - a former aircraft engineer with HMS Seahawk, based at RNAS Culdrose, served many tours overseas in the far and Middle East. During his military career, he covered all maintenance aspects of Merlin helicopters from depth, repairs and preventative servicing, marshalling and everything in-between - and is now thriving at Masterfix as a triple-trade mechanical engineer.

While working with Masterfix is a world apart from the military in many ways, what they do offer is a supportive, structured working environment where hard work gets rewarded and their engineers can feel invested in us and vice versa. They have many opportunities available that would suit the skills developed in the Armed Forces. Their reactive and planned maintenance divisions are currently looking for electricians and multi-traders who ‘do a great job first time, every time’. If you’d like to continue your engineering journey with Masterfix, then get in touch here. 

M GROUP SERVICES

M Group Services is the leading essential infrastructure services provider operating within water, energy, transport and telecommunication across the UK and Ireland. A trusted employer to 10,000 skilled specialists working from 240 locations, it operates a divisional structure aligned with its end markets.

Proud to employ people from the Armed Forces Community in a wide range of roles and at different levels throughout their organisation, in the year to April 2022, M Group Services employed almost 3,500 people. Six per cent of these new employees were from the Armed Forces Community. They are proud Gold Award winners in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, not to mention the success they've had this year - with four employees finalists in the British Ex-Armed Forces in Business Awards.  

They have members of the Armed Forces Community in safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) roles, project management, HR and on the operational side across all their water, energy, transport and telecommunication divisions. The transferable skills ex-military personnel have that are truly valued at M Group Services include:

• The ability to make decisions and get things done

• The ability to work well under pressure - that might be about fixing things quickly, working with a rapidly developing situation and information, meeting strict deadlines, working in risky environments

• The ability to empower and lead people, motivating them to succeed for their customers, particularly in challenging situations

• The ability to provide clear, explicit instructions that enable people to work successfully as teams

• The ability to identify, manage and reduce risk for people, clients and the communities in which they work 

They have over 700 vacancies nationwide - find out more here!

UNITED UTILITIES

United Utilities was one of the first companies to be awarded Gold in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in 2016, and was reaccredited in August 2021. The company has a dedicated internal Armed Forces Network, which is a community that supports employees who are Reservists, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, veterans, spouses, and anyone who has a link to this community. The United Utilities Armed Forces Ambassador won an inspiration award in 2019 for the work done for the Armed Forces Network supporting defence people issues, including Armed Forces Day and Reserves Day.

Reservists and volunteers can take 10 days’ paid leave for their training, and recruitment into the Reserves is promoted among graduates, apprentices and those who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), as well as through company-wide recruitment drives and awareness sessions

The Civilian Work Attachments (CWA) programme allows service leavers to understand and address any skills gaps they have and get exposure to civilian work opportunities. It has many examples of success, including:

• An ex-Lance Corporal Mechanical Engineer who completed a work placement at Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment Works as a Mechanical Engineer and now works for United Utilities as a Customer Support Technician on the water and wastewater network.

• An ex-Army Lance Corporal REME who completed two weeks’ work placement with the Fleet Management team and has now secured a permanent role in Security Operations.

Julie Newton, Head of Organisation Development at United Utilities, said: “As a large employer and FTSE 100 company based in the North West, we’re proud to support our region’s Armed Forces personnel and veterans.

“People with a services background can bring a wealth of valuable skills and experience to our company, from having a great eye to detail and meticulous planning, to working as a team and remaining calm in a crisis.”

Rich Waggitt, Armed Forces Network Chair, added: “Retaining Gold status in the MoD’s Employer Recognition Scheme and signing the Armed Forces Covenant demonstrate our commitment to being a forces friendly employer and are testament to our inclusive work culture and targeted support for armed forces personnel, past and present.”

To find out more about working for United Utilities and see current vacancies, visit: www.unitedutilities.com/corporate/careers/

ROCKFORD

Rockford are the UK’s largest independent provider of wiring, interconnect and system solutions for the defence, aerospace and industrial markets. As a supplier to the UK defence market, it is useful to recruit employees with military experience as they understand the importance of what they are manufacturing from day one and have even sometimes experienced first-hand how their products work in the field. Rockford says that their veteran and reservist employees bring many transferable and valuable skills such as reliability, dedication, teamwork, and the ability work well under pressure. The company has retained their Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and would love to grow their ex-forces employee numbers!

Rockford also understand the need to support their ex-military employees and have many systems in place for this, such as a dedicated Wellbeing Team, Mental Health First Aiders at each site, access to the Cycle-to-Work scheme, annual mental health employee audits with recommendations and improvement actions, a HR and Wellbeing Roadmap, and all Rockford Employees have access to PeopleFirst; their employee benefits package which gives access to discounts at over 800 retailers including many linked to physical and mental wellness (such as discounted gym memberships, optician vouchers, food delivery services, and a range of health, sports and beauty retailers). Rockford are a constantly evolving business that encourages work life balance, all their full-time roles are 4 and a half day weeks with no requirement to work weekends, and they are currently trialling a new shift pattern to enable their hard-working employees to have every 4th Friday off work.

Careers at Rockford involve doing something a little different that also has a real impact in the world, including supplying armed forces, globally, with the equipment they rely on. if you would like to join the Rockford team, click here to view their vacancies and find out how to apply.

Gardner Aerospace is one of the largest international independent manufacturers of metallic aerospace detailed parts, with 13 sites worldwide. Specialising in supplying the industry with machined and sheet metal parts we are a trusted partner with worldwide industry approvals and accreditations.

Gardner has a proud history of supporting our Armed Forces. Through engagement with defence-related organisations, we have been fortunate to work with and employ many people from an Armed Forces background, one of whom is the site director for our site in the Northeast of England. The experiences and skills that these individuals bring to Gardner adds significantly to our organisation and helps shape our values, improving our business in many ways.

To further show our support, in June this year, Gardner supported Armed Forces Day which took place in Scarborough, by becoming sponsors of the event. Gardner employees who are also members of the RAF represented Gardner at the event which was attended by thousands. Gardner Aerospace were also awarded Silver in the 2021 Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

To find out more about their current vacancies click here.