Covenant support for Service leavers and Veterans: Civilian employment
In civilian employment, Covenant support for Service leavers and Veterans includes the following:
“It’s hard for me to find civilian employment, as I don’t know how to find a civilian job”
For veterans of working age, there is support if you choose to start another career in civilian life. The Career Transition Partnership helps you to find a new civilian career or job by translating your skills, experience and qualifications into a successful civilian life. Find out about employers that have ongoing opportunities for ex-military personnel.
The Forces Employment Charity can also assist you, through their job finding services.
Jobcentre Plus services for the Armed Forces and their families outlines how the Department for Work & Pensions is improving support for members of the Armed Forces and their families under the Armed Forces Covenant.
If you’ve left the Armed Forces within the last three years, you can volunteer for the DWP Work Programme. This provides support, work experience and training for up to 2 years to help people find and stay in work. Those receiving Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit or Income Support are eligible.
“It’s hard for me to find civilian employment, as I have military qualifications, not civilian”
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership, Skills Development Scotland and MOD collaborated to create a tool for Service personnel and Service leavers. The online tool supports them in understanding the skills and qualifications they have gained in the Armed Forces. It translates skills and qualifications gained in Service into language easily understood by civilian employers or institutions. This is in order to gain a job or move into further learning. The tool also benchmarks to the Regulated Qualifications Framework and Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework the qualifications gained during Service.
“It’s hard for me to find civilian employment, as employers don’t know how to manage the injury I sustained in Service”
The MOD and the Department for Work and Pensions launched the Service Leavers’ Adjustments Passport in July 2023. It is hosted by DWP on GOV.UK, and is signposted to service leavers by Defence Transition Services, the Career Transition Partnership, Veterans Welfare Services and the third sector. The Service Leaver Passport follows the success of the Health Adjustment Passport. It enables Service leavers to communicate any reasonable adjustments or specific requirements they may have to employers, in a way which empowers and is confidential to the individual.
