Leading energy and utilities sector employers, including Essex & Suffolk Water, have agreed a collaborative approach to enable the engagement, attraction and recruitment of ex-military personnel into the sector.
Paving the way, organisations within the sector have come together in collaboration, as a partnership to sign individual Armed Forces Covenants and deliver broader sector visibility to Ex Military Personnel, representing the sector’s commitment to support ex-military workforce.
Facilitated through the Energy & Utilities Skills Partnership, (a sector focused skills partnership as part of Energy & Utility Skills Group), 9 new signatories have been progressed, formalising their individual pledges through the Armed Forces Covenant. This includes Essex & Suffolk Water.
Michael Moore, Resourcing Manager at Essex & Suffolk Water, said: “As an employer, we are committed to promoting ourselves as an employer of choice to the Armed Forces Community, and are proud to be a part of this sector-wide push.
“We have already benefitted from having members of the Armed Forces Community among a wide range our teams, adding value and helping us to deliver an unrivalled customer service, and we actively put ourselves in the market place for more people like that.”
In total, 24 employers have agreed to further collaborate and work 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.”