The company believes many of the skills developed in the military – including leadership, communication, teamwork and the ability to adapt quickly – can be successfully transferred to the increasingly high-tech world of agriculture.
One former serviceman who has made the transition is Glenn Risebrow, who spent 28 years in the RAF Regiment before joining Ben Burgess as its precision technology business manager.
Mr Risebrow, 48, from King’s Lynn, served on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and was also stationed in Germany, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Estonia, Alaska and various UK bases.
He left the RAF as a Warrant Officer almost a year ago, deciding it was time to begin a completely new chapter.
“I never considered working in agriculture,” he said. “I’ve got no agricultural background whatsoever.
“But the company saw beyond that and saw the transferable skills. The more I learned about the role, the more I thought this is something I can get stuck into.”
During his military career, Mr Risebrow held a wide range of positions involving leadership, strategic management, welfare, human resources and discipline. He was responsible for an entire station of around 1,500 personnel.
He said communication and adaptability have proved particularly valuable in his new role, especially when dealing with rapidly changing circumstances.
Rather than simply imposing solutions, he uses his experience to identify problems with his team and work collaboratively to find answers.
Mr Risebrow also acknowledged that some aspects of military leadership had to be adapted for civilian life.
He recalled an occasion when a colleague failed to meet a deadline he had clearly set. While his response earlier in his military career might have been considerably more forceful, he said the civilian workplace required a different approach.
Instead, he focused on understanding the problem, finding a solution and ensuring the issue did not happen again.
He believes there are strong similarities between the military and agricultural sectors, particularly their determination to get the job done.
Ben B Turner, a director at Ben Burgess, said former service personnel can bring a wide range of abilities to the company.
Veteran experience can prove highly useful to everyday businesses
Veterans have taken up positions ranging from technical and administrative jobs to accounts, management, leadership and workshop roles.
He said the company’s experience had shown that military leavers should not be viewed as fitting into a single category, but rather as individuals with diverse skills.
Mr Turner added that military service demonstrates qualities including teamwork, integrity, problem-solving and a strong commitment to completing tasks properly.
Some veterans have suffered military related injuries – but for many, there is a drive to prove themselves in the civilian world.
He said veterans had made a significant contribution and deserved to be welcomed when they leave the armed forces and begin their next careers.
The partnership between military veterans and the agricultural sector demonstrates how experience gained in demanding environments can be adapted to support another industry where teamwork, resilience and getting the job done remain essential.
Other popular fields that veterans can add value include aviation, engineering, logistics and automotive.
For work opportunities and those exploring life after the military, helpful resources include: armedforcescommunity.org and veteranx.io