Are you facing a skills gap in your workforce? You're not alone a staggering 68% of UK employers have struggled to find skilled workers in the past year, with the shortfall costing businesses a collective £4.4 billion. But there’s an often-overlooked solution hiding in plain sight: UK Armed Forces service leavers.
Armed Forces leavers represent a rich and largely untapped pool of skilled, dedicated professionals who bring with them a wealth of transferable skills, discipline, and a proven ability to thrive in high-pressure environments. If your business is in the building engineering services sector, now is the time to consider how hiring ex-forces personnel can not only fill your vacancies but add immense value to your company.
Why you should consider recruiting UK Armed Forces leavers
UK Armed Forces leavers bring value to themselves, their employers, and the wider economy. Employment, education, and skills development lay the foundation for long-term success - not just for the individual, but for the industries and communities they serve. UK Armed Forces leavers are not only job-ready - they are highly desirable employees. Here’s why:
Transferable Skills
UK Armed Forces leavers have technical and mechanical aptitudes developed in challenging environments. Their training includes:
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These align perfectly with building engineering roles that demand accuracy, reliability, and adherence to regulations.
Adaptability And Resilience
Service leavers are used to working under pressure, adapting to new technologies and environments quickly, and delivering results against tight deadlines - core skills in fast-paced engineering and construction projects.
Loyalty And Strong Work Ethic
With a background that values commitment, structure, and integrity, UK Armed Forces leavers are known for their strong work ethic and reliability - qualities any employer would value.
Cost-Effective Recruitment
UK Armed Forces leavers are often ready to hit the ground running with minimal training. Working with military transition organisations reduces recruitment and onboarding costs, especially compared to conventional methods that can include hefty fees and long lead times.
Why a UK Armed Forces leavers should consider a career in building engineering services
A New Purpose-Driven Career
Transitioning into building engineering services gives ex-service personnel the chance to continue making a difference in a civilian setting - this time shaping the built environment and contributing to projects that directly impact communities.
Diverse Career Pathways
Whether someone is hands-on or strategic, the sector offers something for everyone:
- On the tools: roles in installation, maintenance, and servicing
- Technical leadership: project management, design engineering, compliance
- Future-forward specialisms: renewable energy systems, smart buildings, digital construction
Career Satisfaction And Growth
This industry provides long-term stability, strong earning potential, and opportunities for continuous learning and certification. It’s a challenging but rewarding environment with a clear path for growth.
What Is Building Services And Engineering?
Building services engineering is the design, manufacture, and installation of all of the engineering systems that make the building comfortable, safe, and pleasant to be in and also the systems that use energy.
It encompasses much more than just MEP or HVAC, but also mechanical services, electrical services, civil engineering public health services, and building-integrated features such as passive cooling.
Building services might include building control systems, energy distribution, energy supply, escalators and lifts, facade engineering, fire safety, detection and protection, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and information and communications technology.
What Are Building Services?
Building services are the systems installed in buildings to make them comfortable, functional, efficient and safe. Building services might include:
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Do You Have Any Vacancies In Your Organisation?
We are working with UK armed forces partners to prepare service leavers for their next challenge. They will work with service leavers on CV’s, interview preparation, training, work experience ready for them to attend careers fairs where you will be able to attend and interview any prospective candidates.
Build your team. Close the skills gap. Support our armed forces leavers.
Further Resources
We’re working closely with UK military partners and organisations like:
- Forces Transition Group (FTG) – CV writing, interview prep, job boards, courses
- BuildForce – training needs analysis, site visits, work experience and employment
- REED CTP – employer links and vocational training
- Explore Engineering – career pathways and job opportunities
These partnerships ensure veterans are supported with CVs, interview skills, industry training and real-world work experience—meaning they’re not just ready for work, they’re ready to thrive.