Veteran Employment UK — Jobs & Careers for Ex-Forces
Your military skills are valuable to civilian employers. Veterans' Bridge UK lists UK veteran employment services — from CV translation and interview coaching to employer networks and funded training. Whether you are just leaving the forces or changing careers years later, free help is available.
Translating military skills to civilian jobs
Many UK veterans underestimate how transferable their skills are. Veteran employment charities such as the RBL, SSAFA, Walking With The Wounded and Careerforce help you translate military experience into a civilian CV, prepare for interviews, and connect with veteran-friendly employers.
Resettlement and training for UK veterans
Service leavers get resettlement support, and many veteran charities offer funded training and qualifications after you have left. See our Training, Resettlement & Education category for free courses, apprenticeships and skills programmes designed for the armed forces community.
Frequently asked questions
Are there employers that specifically hire UK veterans?
Yes. Thousands of UK employers have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and actively recruit veterans. Veteran employment charities can match you with veteran-friendly employers and provide direct introductions.
Can I get free training to change careers as a veteran?
Yes. Several armed forces charities and government schemes offer funded training, qualifications and apprenticeships for UK veterans. Browse the Training, Resettlement & Education category on Veterans' Bridge UK.
Veteran Employment UK — listed services
View directorySoldiers On Set
Soldiers On Set (SOS) connects serving soldiers and veterans with paid work in the film & TV industry across the UK. They provide supporting artistes (SPACT), military advisors, and logistical/location support to productions requiring authentic military expertise. Run by serving and former service personnel, they match trained soldiers with productions nationwide.
Heropreneurs
Part of the Forces Employment Charity, Heropreneurs offers free one-to-one business mentoring from successful business leaders to veterans, serving personnel and military families with entrepreneurial ambitions.
BuildForce
Provides career pathways into the construction, infrastructure and facilities management industries for veterans. Offers pre-employment, employment, education and mental health programmes, including a partnership with University College of Estate Management.
Forces Employment Charity
Established in 1885, provides employment and training support to veterans, reservists, service leavers and their families. Offers career advice, CV support, job matching, training and events.
Op ASCEND
Free government-backed employment service for veterans and their families. Provides career advice, connects veterans with veteran-friendly employers, and supports CV writing, interview prep and retraining.
Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE)
Established 1919. Provides employment (Lifeworks programme), housing and specialist care for veterans and people with disabilities. Centenary Village in Aylesford is the UK's largest veteran village with a full care pathway.
Step Together Volunteering
Helps veterans, service leavers and personnel on recovery duty find volunteering opportunities aligned with their interests and future plans. One-to-one dedicated support worker. No time limit on support. Accepts self-referrals.
Serco Group plc
3rd Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - Public services and defence company supporting service leavers transition
Serco House, 16 Bartley Wood Business Park, Bartley Way, Hook, Hampshire RG27 9UY, Hook, RG27 9UY
Eligibility: Armed Forces Covenant signatory with dedicated veteran recruitment programmes
Leonardo UK
33rd Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - Defence and security company with 220+ Armed Forces Network members
One Eagle Place, London SW1Y 6AF, London, SW1Y 6AF
Eligibility: Strong internal Armed Forces Network supporting veterans, reservists and military families
Airbus UK Operations
48th Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - Aerospace manufacturer with 10+ days paid leave for reservist duties
Pegasus House, Aerospace Avenue, Filton, Bristol BS34 7PA, Bristol, BS34 7PA
Eligibility: 10+ days paid reservist leave and Armed Forces Covenant commitment
MBDA UK Limited
8th Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - Missile systems manufacturer with veteran recruitment focus and paid leave for reservists
Six Hills Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2DA, Stevenage, SG1 2DA
Eligibility: ELCAS and Armed Forces Covenant supporter with dedicated reservist leave policies
BAE Systems plc
Joint 1st Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - Global defence contractor with strong veteran hiring and support culture
6 Carlton Gardens, London SW1Y 5AD, London, SW1Y 5AD
Eligibility: Armed Forces Covenant signatory - Offers family support leave and flexible working for reservists
Northrop Grumman UK
10th Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - Aerospace and defence leader with flexible leave policies for military families
2nd Floor Clareville House, 26-27 Oxendon Street, London SW1Y 4EL, London, SW1Y 4EL
Eligibility: Offers flexible leave around partner deployments and military family support
Lifeworks
Lifeworks is an award-winning employment support programme from Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE), delivered by veterans and running since 2011. It offers personalised, coaching-led employability support including CV writing, career pathway guidance, confidence-building courses, access to training and a 12-month follow-up programme. Around 80% of participants move into employment, training or volunteering within 12 months. Courses run in person and virtually across the UK, with dedicated support for veterans, spouses and the families of those currently serving.
Eligibility: Armed Forces veterans, their spouses, and the families of those currently serving.
Forces Transition Group Ltd
Free transition support for service leavers, veterans, spouses, siblings and blue-light personnel moving to civilian life. Offers online and live job fairs, free CV writing, CPD alignment, networking, interview prep (The Hot Seat), FTG Academy courses and a jobs board. Founded by veteran John Stephenson.
7 Kenrick Place, Acomb, York, YO26 5ER
Eligibility: Serving personnel, service leavers, spouses, siblings, veterans and blue-light personnel
UNiBLOCK Ltd
UK manufacturer of an Insulated Concrete Formwork (ICF) construction system — a veteran-friendly employer offering opportunities in the construction and manufacturing sector. UNiBLOCK's modern, innovative build system is used across residential, commercial, industrial and institutional projects.
Yalberton Industrial Estate, Alders Way, Paignton, TQ4 7QQ
Eligibility: Veterans and ex-serving personnel seeking employment in construction and manufacturing
weServed
A secure platform for the UK Veterans community providing job matching, free ELCAS-accredited training, veteran offers and a MOD-verified community network. 4,000+ veterans placed with recruitment partners.
RFEA Families Employment Programme
The RFEA Families Employment Programme supports spouses, partners and dependants of serving and ex-serving personnel to find employment. Offers one-to-one employment support, CV workshops, training opportunities and job search assistance across the UK.
Eligibility: Spouses, partners and dependants of serving and ex-serving Armed Forces personnel
Rolls-Royce plc
Leading global aerospace and defence company headquartered in London with strong military engineering heritage and veteran hiring
Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9FX, London, N1 9FX
Eligibility: Defence and aerospace expertise offering career opportunities for military personnel
Babcock International Group
Joint 1st Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - Leading defence and engineering company with dedicated military recruitment and support programmes
33 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1QX, London, W1U 1QX
Eligibility: Armed Forces Covenant signatory - Guaranteed interview scheme, Train to Fit programme for veterans
Microsoft UK
9th Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - Technology company committed to hiring military talent with dedicated programme
2 Kingdom Street, Paddington, London W2 6BD, London, W2 6BD
Eligibility: Military & Veterans Outreach programme supporting service leavers into tech careers
Centrica plc
5th Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - Energy company with 10+ days paid leave for reservists and family support policies
Millstream, Maidenhead Road, Windsor SL4 5GD, Windsor, SL4 5GD
Eligibility: Armed Forces Covenant supporter - 10+ days paid reservist leave and family support programmes
FDM Group
6th Top GREAT Employer of Veterans - IT and business services company with dedicated veteran recruitment and training
London, London, E1
Eligibility: Top 50 employer providing IT career pathways specifically for military leavers
Recruit for Spouses – Veterans
Works with veteran-friendly employers to place ex-service personnel and military spouses in flexible and remote roles across the UK.
Poppy Factory – Employment Support
Helps wounded, injured and sick veterans into sustainable employment through personalised support and relationships with veteran-friendly employers across the UK.
RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity
Provides lifelong employment support to veterans and their families, working with a network of veteran-friendly employers and offering job matching, CV support and coaching.
Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS)
Find Gold, Silver and Bronze award-winning employers who are committed to supporting veterans and reservists. Search the directory to identify veteran-friendly organisations.
helmforce
A veteran-dedicated job board and community connecting ex-military personnel with hundreds of veteran-friendly employers across the UK.
Forces Families Jobs
A dedicated job board connecting veterans, reservists and military spouses with employers who actively support the Armed Forces community.
X-Forces Enterprise
Supports veterans who want to start or grow their own business, with funding access, mentoring and a network of veteran-friendly business partners.
Walking With The Wounded – Employment
WWTW's employment programmes connect wounded, injured and sick veterans with veteran-friendly employers and provide long-term employment support.
Career Transition Partnership (CTP)
The official MoD resettlement provider, connecting service leavers with veteran-friendly employers through job fairs, online job boards and career coaching.
Eligibility: Service leavers and veterans