Eight veterans are the very first people to take part in the brand-new ‘Building Beyond Service’ programme at the Earl's Court Skills Centre in London. They are learning how to safely operate plant machinery, which is the type of large equipment used on building sites – like diggers and excavators.
As they train, they are working towards qualifications that are recognised across the construction industry. This means that once they finish, they will have recognised proof of their new skills and a direct route to employers who are looking to hire.
Speaking about why the scheme matters, Minister for Veterans and People, Calvin Bailey MBE MP said:
"Veterans leave the armed forces with skills, experience and a work ethic that employers across the country are looking for.
"The challenge is often making sure those skills are recognised and creating a clear route into civilian careers. That's exactly what this programme is doing, helping veterans move into good jobs while supporting an industry that needs skilled people.
"Having made the transition from military service myself, I know how important these opportunities can be. This is a practical example of how we can back veterans to succeed long after they leave uniform."
The training is being delivered by the Places for London skills academy, working together with two partners: The Skills Centre and L Lynch Plant Hire & Haulage.
If this first pilot group is successful, the plan is to help up to 60 veterans in total during the programme's first year.
Building growth and opportunities
Veterans leave the armed forces with brilliant skills: leadership, teamwork, discipline and often hands-on experience of engineering or logistics. But it is not always easy for employers to see how those skills fit into civilian jobs.
At the same time, the construction industry needs more skilled workers. Experts think the UK will need around 41,200 extra construction workers every year up to 2030.
This programme aims to connect those two things, helping veterans find good, lasting careers, while helping the construction industry fill its skills gap.
The scheme also delivers against the Defence Housing strategy, a £9.2 billion government plan to improve homes for military families and build more homes, with veterans and Forces families given priority for some of the new properties built on surplus defence land.
David Brewer, Chief Executive of the Defence Housing Service, said:
“Whilst delivering on the promises of the Defence Housing strategy, we are taking a truly forces first approach to create real opportunities for veterans and employers, which have the potential to lead to lasting careers in the construction industry.”
Joining together to support veterans
This new programme is the result of joined-up working between the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and Places for London, a property company owned by Transport for London. It recognises the contribution veterans can make to economic growth and the resilience of the UK.
In collaboration with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) and Career Transition Partnership (CTP), the programme sits alongside existing support and advice to help people move into new careers as they leave the armed forces. This includes Op ASCEND, which offers free careers advice to veterans for the rest of their working lives.
Laura Miller, Head of Skills and Growth at Places for London, said:
“Many veterans do not realise the range of opportunities available or how the skills they have developed during their military careers could open doors to something new.
“Building Beyond Service aims to build on existing support, with us bringing together the Ministry of Defence, employers and training providers to create new pathways into the industry.
“As one of London’s major developers, Places for London is in a unique position to bring industry partners together and turn that collaboration into real opportunities. Our first cohort of veterans is just the beginning. Our ambition is to build a programme that opens doors across the built environment, supports long-term career progression and helps develop the skilled workforce London needs.”
Next steps
This first group of veterans will trial the programme, to test what works best – covering how to recruit people, recognise their existing skills, and support them into stable, long-term careers in construction. The lessons learned will help shape how the programme grows in the future.
More information
To find out more about ‘Building Beyond Service’ and future opportunities contact The Skills Centre. People interested in future courses can also use this route to register their interest.