Businesses Urged to Sign up and Support Ex-Service Men and Women at Launch of “VETS East”

Initiative aims to tackle skills shortage and boost local economy

A brand new pilot that will match military leavers with future employers is to be trialled in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

VETS East is the first regional hub for the Veterans Employment Transition Support Programme* VETS – a national partnership pilot launched this month – which provides registration, mentoring, ready to work and in-work support services for former members of the armed forces.

Research commissioned by the VETS programme** with nearly 800 former veterans, shows that many employers do not value military experience as highly as they should so the region’s businesses are missing out on a wealth of expertise and talent, such as leadership, strategic planning and problem solving. In the East of England only a quarter of former veterans feel their current employer fully recognises their skills and experience.

The national programme brings together the MOD and the Career Transition Partnership, which helps veterans gain civilian employment, with a coalition of corporate companies such as, Barclays, Deloitte and Jaguar Landrover, and service charities, such as Help for Heroes and Walking with the Wounded. Working with the existing landscape of transition support VETS provides end to end assistance to veterans and offers employers advice on how to recruit, support and get the best from veterans in their workforce.

VETS East, will focus on matching service leavers with the region’s businesses – in particular, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) – so employers will have direct access to this under-utilised future workforce as well as benefiting from savings in recruitment fees.

The regional programme is led by Andy Wood, CEO of Adnams, in his capacity as The Prince’s Ambassador for the East of England – an appointment made by Business in the Community (BITC)*** on behalf of HRH The Prince of Wales to promote responsible business in the region.

Last year at BITC’s Responsible Business Awards, The Prince of Wales said: “It is enormously encouraging to find companies not just tackling unemployment amongst young people generally, but making a real and targeted effort to support our troops as they return to civilian life.The extent of their commitment to providing practical training and job offers is remarkable and I hope many other companies will follow their lead.”

VETS East is the local business response. The project is also supported locally by Business in the Community, Barclays and New Anglia LEP.

Andy Wood, who is also Chair of New Anglia LEP’s Skills Board, said the region had a proud history of supporting the UK’s armed forces and called on SMEs to do what they can to help with employment opportunities. “We know that several hundred service leavers are looking for work across our three counties at any one time and we also know that many of our SMEs and larger companies are struggling with a real skills gap. VETS East aims to tackle both these issues bringing long term benefits to the veterans, new talent to our companies and a boost to the local economy.

Enterprises across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex are packed full of talent and expertise, we are looking for them to share that experience by offering mentoring, interview coaching and work placements, and to consider ex-service men and women when they are looking to recruit new team members.”

Mark Pendlington, chairman of New Anglia LEP and a Group Director at Anglian Water, said: “My company is one of many that has signed the military covenant because we know how important it is to support our armed forces and recognise the excellent skills they can bring into the business world. As an organisation tasked with boosting economic growth and tackling the skills gap, The LEP is extremely supportive of this initiative and I would encourage enterprises across Norfolk and Suffolk and Essex to get involved and offer practical support and help.”

As the nation remembers those who have sacrificed their lives, in wars across the world, VETS East will be launched at a special business breakfast at Ipswich Town Football Club on Friday November 20 – with over 100 business leaders as well as former members of the armed forces who are now running or working in companies across our region. Businesses can still register for the event at https://www.bitc.org.uk/news-events/events/vets-launch

Attendees will hear how local companies have successfully employed service leavers to the benefit of both business and the individual and how more can benefit from the VETS East programme.

Businesses will be asked to pledge their support by offering mentoring, work placements and advertising job vacancies on the VETS East website, which is currently being developed.

Tim Seeley, Head of Corporate & Business Banking East Anglia, said: “Barclays is proud to have supported thousands of servicemen and women through our AFTER programme, which helps with the transition into civilian employment and highlights the economic value those from the military can bring to the corporate world. We are delighted to be working in partnership with such a broad range of businesses, charities and employment agencies, to take this support to the next stage.”back into civilian life and a rewarding career, as I did.”