Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership support the Armed Forces Covenant to attract the Armed Forces Community workforce

Leading energy and utilities sector employers are collaborating to engage, attract and recruit ex-military personnel into the sector. Paving the way, organisations within the sector yesterday (25 Sept) signed individual Armed Forces Covenants and a wider pledge to increase the sector’s visibility to Ex Military Personnel.  

Facilitated through the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership, (a sector focused workforce and skills partnership operated by Energy & Utility Skills), 9 new signatories formalised their individual commitment through the Armed Forces Covenant.  In total, 24 sector employers are already underway in partnership with the Ministry of Defence, (MOD), Defence Relationship Management (DRM) and the Department for Work and Pensions, (DWP), to attract and retain more ex-military employees into the industry. 

The covenant supports serving military, including Reserves, service leavers, veterans, and their families. Recognising the value and experience of ex-military workforce, energy and utilities employers commit to work together to ensure the sector is recognised as armed forces friendly.

Nick Ellins, Chief Executive of Energy & Utility Skills, commented: “I am delighted to see our leading employers support the covenant. With a good proportion of the 14,000 people that leave the armed forces every year possessing highly sought-after skills, service leavers are a fantastic talent pool and ideally suited to our industry. 

Through the ‘Talent Source Network’ job board, and working in partnership with the MOD, DRM and DWP, our industry is actively aiming to attract service leavers. With their technical skills, professional drive and personal determination, they are ideally placed for a career in our rewarding sector which urgently needs 221,000 recruits by 2027 to meet its skills challenge.”

‘Talent Source Network’ provides a sector specific job site for members covering the energy and utilities sector. It allows candidates to learn about supporting employers, search for jobs, and careers information. Employers work collaboratively on the website and post over 550 roles per month, many of which are suited for ex-military personnel. 

Ian Westcott, Senior National Account Manager, National Employer and Partnership Team at DWP said: “The Armed Forces community can contribute real value to a business with their wealth of skills and experience. It’s admirable that the energy and utilities sector are one of the first to take an inclusive approach and become an armed forces friendly industry. Working closely with ‘Talent Source Network’ Employers we have been delighted to play a role in the promotion and uptake of the Armed Forces Covenant.  These commitments ensure that the industry’s doors are always open to ex-service personnel, offering real jobs, training and expert advice. 

Natalie Haynes, Assistant Director, Relationship Management for DRM: “We are delighted that the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership has committed to focus on engaging and attracting ex-military personnel and their families through facilitating signings of the Armed Forces Covenant with some of their members.”

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. 

• An agreement with mortgage lenders allowing personnel posted abroad to rent out their homes without facing higher mortgage costs or having to change their mortgage.
• Fairer mobile and broadband phone contracts, freezing the accounts of Armed Forces personnel and their families posted overseas and removing cancellation fees.
• Better deals in motor insurance, allowing personnel to keep their no claims bonuses and avoid cancellation fees when posted overseas at short notice.  
• Employer networks in a wide range of sectors to support Service leavers through their transition to new careers.                                                        
• A Review of the Covenant in Business commissioned by the Forces in Mind Trust is being run to highlight and promote best practice and identify areas for further improvement.