Recruiting from the Armed Forces community

Defined by the Office of Veterans Affairs (OVA) as individuals who have served for at least one day in His Majesty's Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve).

 According to the OVA Veteran Factsheet 2020, there is an estimated 2.4 million veterans in Great Britain.

Individuals who serve part-time, often alongside a civilian job including those with clinical and non-clinical professions.

Individuals who volunteer and work with various Ministry of Defence (MOD) cadet organisations.

Approximately 14,000 individuals transition out of the military each year, coming from diverse professional backgrounds.

This typically refers to spouses and partners, including those who have experienced bereavement, as well as immediate family members, including adult children.

Service leavers and veterans often face challenges in finding employment in their desired location, especially if they are still serving in the military.

The process of transitioning to civilian life can be fragmented, and service leavers may miss out on opportunities due to their military commitments.

Many candidates have not filled out job applications since joining the military, which can be a significant obstacle to gaining employment.

For some candidates, their last interview experience may date back to when they joined the military, which could be 24 years or even longer, especially if they enlisted at the age of 16.

Many candidates from an Armed Forces background struggle to identify their appropriate fit within the NHS when applying for roles. They may have limited or no experience of the NHS from an employer's perspective, but this should not hinder their employment prospects with the NHS.

Some military experience may be challenging to articulate in terms of language and the nature of the roles undertaken, making it difficult for employers to fully understand the skills and capabilities of candidates.

Female service leavers often lack confidence or downplay their skills, knowledge, and experience, which can impact their job search and prospects.