Networking with the Armed Forces community is a great way to build professional relationships, gain valuable insights from Serving personnel, veterans and military spouses – and build a talent pipeline of uniquely skilled individuals into your workplace. So where do you start?

1. Understand the Armed Forces Community

The Armed Forces community is made up of serving personnel, reservists, veterans, military spouses and their families. The total size of the full-time UK Armed Forces is around 148,230 personnel, over half in the Army (56%), with the remainder being equally split between the Royal Navy and Royal Marines and the Royal Air Force. In 2021, 1,853,112 people in England and Wales reported they had previously served in the UK Armed Forces. The percentage is estimated to increase from 37% in 2016 to 44% in 2028). But there is so much more to veterans and this community than statistics!

  • Transferable Skills

Military service promotes leadership, organisational skills, resilience (to name but a few) and many other unique qualities which are a great asset to employers. Many of the skills honed in the military have been fostered in a diverse and challenging environment. 

  • More than just a ‘job’

Being in the military isn’t just a job; it is a lifestyle. Military personnel live in barracks, or military quarters with their family, or travel back ‘home’ when they can. There’s a unique sense of community that does not happen in other jobs, where colleagues become friends and friends become family. 

  • Don’t forget military spouses!

Highly-adaptable and skilled in holding down the fort for months on end while their partner is away, they should never be underestimated and like veterans, would be a great talent to any organisation. 

2. Reach out to the Armed Forces Community 

There are a number of ways you can connect your business with the Armed Forces community.

We are a dedicated team made up of veterans, military spouses and experts in our field and are proud to have forged a strong connection with the Armed Forces community. Through our Consultancy Services, we can help you as a business fulfil your Armed Forces Covenant pledges, build sustainable talent pipelines, and unlock business and social value through measurable, lasting initiatives. Our SaluteMyJob Search team works hard to support transitioning and former Service personnel, as well as their families, by linking them with ‘Forces-Friendly’ employers. We provide streamlined access to diverse, rewarding roles while helping businesses connect with skilled and experienced candidates. 

Troopr’s mission is to empower the Armed Forces community by helping them discover and connect with opportunities that enhance their lives across key areas: work, housing, health and wellbeing, money, and community. Their directory of ‘Forces-Friendly’ organisations and searchable marketplace of opportunities is a unique platform that bridges the gap between the Armed Forces Community and the opportunities available to them.

The Career Transition Partnership provides a number of services for Service Leavers during and beyond their resettlement, as well as offering training and recruitment support. 

  • Military Charities

There are a huge number of military charities, you can search Troopr’s directory for contacts or alternatively find charities online, via their websites and social media. Forming strong connections with military charities is a great way to forge stronger connections within the community and showcase your enthusiasm to help veterans, reservists. military spouses and their families. 

  • Social Media

LinkedIn in particular is a practical way to network with the community, with a number of groups dedicated to supporting veteran jobseekers (the Gen Dit Network for example), holding webinars (why not host your own?), share employment events and showcase Forces-Friendly employers. 

3. Organise military insight days 

Military insight days are a cost-effective way of giving the Armed Forces Community a feel of your organisation and the types of roles that are on offer. It’s also a great way to meet potential new employees and understand the community and how their in-demand skills and experience could fit into your workplace. Some employers offer CV writing and interview technique tips which is a great way of giving attendees a chance to understand more about the commercial workplace and how to successfully gain employment.

4. Attend job fairs and events

The CTP and British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS), organise yearly job fairs around the country and are a fantastic way for employers to showcase their organisation to Service Leavers, veterans and military spouses. It’s also a great way to speak to other Forces-Friendly employers and find out about their military recruitment services, success stories from veteran employees and understand more about the community as a whole.

5. Provide work experience

Work experience, placements and internships are a great way for employers to support the Armed Forces community and gain practical commercial experience. Many may have no experience of or very little experience in the civilian workplace. It is a win-win! Jobseekers can gain vital first-hand commercial experience and employers can find out about the benefits of employing ex-military personnel. One of our valued partners, Securious, did just that – and gained two experienced veterans on their team. Watch the video here. 

If you would like to find out more about networking, our consultancy services or how to become one of our partners, click here.