Ageas Bowl hosts packed Employment Fair for Armed Forces Leavers to meet British businesses

Representatives from 120 leading British businesses met with more 550 ex-military personnel this week at a national Employment Fair hosted by the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.

With more than 14,000 people leaving the UK Armed Forces every year, employers, Service leavers and veterans came together to network and plan for their futures. There were hundreds of job opportunities and career pathways available on the day and the one-day event gave exhibitors the chance to promote their brand and showcase the careers they offer.

Employers attending the Southampton event represented a wide range of sectors including IT, renewables, engineering, technology, Public Sector, healthcare and many others. In attendance were Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard), EmcorUK and many others.

Leavers of the Armed Forces are highly driven, skilled and ‘work-ready’ but need support in weighing up their options to find the next suitable career pathway. Service leavers and veterans typically offer businesses exceptional technical skills and also power skills such as communication, commitment, problem solving and teamwork.

Daren Moss, Group Captain, TSLD in attendance said: “I am in charge of the military half of the Career Transition Partnership, so for me it was a pleasure to be at the Southampton event, a special one as it marked the 25-year anniversary of the official partnership with the Ministry of Defence. Southampton was also the biggest event we’ve had so far this year with over 500 service leavers and 120 employers – it was absolutely brilliant to see the buzz and the engagement that went on at that great venue.

The jampacked event represent the fact that industry is actively looking for the skills our Service leavers have, and as of the end of last month we had almost 90,000 registered jobs specifically looking for service leavers for the 15, or 16,000 people we’re going to have leaving over the next 12 months.

So, all in all, a fantastic venue playing host to a fantastic event, and it was brilliant to see smiles on the faces of both the employers and our Service leavers.”

A spokesperson from EmcorUK, in attendance said: “The last CTP Employment Fair we went to was pre-covid and this one his has been amazing, so much better. There’s been more footfall here, more people that want to have a chat, more engagement – it’s been great.

We’d like to share a tip for Service leavers from EmcorUK, to make sure to not only keep an open mind but have confidence in yourself and your abilities and the skills and traits you’ve learned – from the outside looking-in, you have lots to give and your skills are always transferable.”

CTP is a partnering agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Right Management, the global career and talent development expert within ManpowerGroup. It provides resettlement support for those leaving the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines regardless of time served. CTP has been the official provider of Armed Forces resettlement for 25 years, helping 250,000 service leavers make their move into civilian life.