Helping veterans look #BeyondTheUniform
Morson has a dedicated recruitment arm which is completely focused on securing skilled employment for ex-forces personnel, their spouses and partners, supporting their transition into civilian life.
It currently has in excess of 2,500 ex-military contract and permanent staff from the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, working across a variety of client projects in the UK and overseas.
Led by army veteran Dan McGuigan, our investment into a dedicated ex-forces team as a branch of our wider organisation has seen us place candidates in some of the most complex and niche roles within privatised MOD contracts, as well as in other industries such as aerospace, marine and nuclear.
And rather than viewing ex-forces transition as purely transactional, our people-centric approach means we’re committed to supporting veterans with everything they need for a successful transition. This includes upskilling and reskilling, professional networking, and spousal and partner support. We’re also on hand to provide virtual LinkedIn workshops and CV tips sessions, with our team of ex-forces specialists, themselves veterans, providing tailored coaching on how to maximise these elements of the transition.
Events
Over the past few years, we have vastly increased the number of virtual events we’ve hosted in conjunction with our clients. This has allowed veterans from our own talent pool and the wider community to attend sessions directly with potential ex-forces friendly employers, finding out more about potential roles and how their skills can fit in.
In addition to these virtual events, a key development area in our ex-forces support has been our in-person recruitment events, which also bridge the gap between veterans and our exhibitors. In November 2024, we marked Armistice Day in a unique way by hosting our largest-ever ex-forces recruitment event at Vitality Stadium in Bournemouth. This event reaffirmed our commitment to supporting veterans—past, present, and future—as a tribute to their sacrifices.
Bringing together exhibitors from aerospace, defence, rail, digital, and construction industries, we organised a specialised recruitment day to help veterans transition into civilian careers. Bournemouth was chosen as the event location based on feedback from ex-forces candidates at previous events and across Morson Group’s social channels.
The day was split into two sections. In the morning, veteran Dan McGuigan led a comprehensive CV and myth-busting session, addressing common misconceptions about the transition to civilian careers. Veterans gained practical strategies to overcome these challenges and learned how to present themselves effectively on paper and in interviews.
In the afternoon, veterans moved into our exhibition space, with attendees free to network with our clients and guest exhibitors throughout the afternoon and find out what opportunities these force-friendly organisations had on offer.
Candidate and client feedback on the event:
“Yesterday was a great day at the Morson Talent Careers Fair in Bournemouth! Massive thanks to the organisers for putting together such a worthwhile event. I have had the chance to connect with some genuinely impressive employers and plan to keep those conversations going throughout my resettlement journey.”
Service Leaver and attendee of the event
“Morson have proven themselves to be the real deal when backing up their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and today they didn’t fall short of that. Hosting a diverse range of top businesses spanning multiple sectors, all of which recognise the valuable skills and qualities that service leavers can bring…A thoroughly uplifting day filled with opportunities.”
Ex-Royal Marine who attended the event
“It was an extremely friendly atmosphere. The Morson team on-site were all very friendly and helpful…I felt this created a great atmosphere for attendees, which led to plenty of conversation and a vibrant, buzzing room!”
Exhibitor from Liberty Group
Meet Dan McGuigan: Morson’s ex-forces engagement lead
Having left the Army just four years ago, Dan McGuigan has seamlessly transferred his leadership, military knowledge and dedication to this community into the corporate world, making a significant impact at Morson Talent. As a former soldier in the British Army with extensive experience as a leader, physical and military instructor within an operational, engineering and training environment, Dan has leveraged his extensive experience to bridge the gap between service leavers and meaningful employment opportunities. Recognising the unique challenges that transitioning personnel face, using his own experience he has played a pivotal role in developing a structured pathway of guidance and support, ensuring that service leavers are well-equipped for success in civilian careers.
Over the past 18 months in particular, Dan has been instrumental in driving Morson’s ex-forces recruitment division to new heights. During this time, he’s spearheaded our activities, delivering one-to-one coaching, virtual and in-person service leaver events, and tailored industry insights to help individuals understand the expectations of hiring managers, recruiters, and potential employers. He’s done all this while working closely with companies to help them understand the benefits in employing service leavers and the extensive skillsets and experiences that they can bring with them.
Dan’s proactive approach has helped empower countless service leavers to understand what a CV should look like to gain attention, how to best perform in interviews, and develop a strong professional profile, leading to successful employment placements that align with their long-term aspirations to provide the stability they were accustomed to within service.
Beyond individual success stories, Dan has worked tirelessly to cultivate a structured and proactive resettlement approach utilising his own experiences and struggles navigating the job market after service. This ensures that every transitioning service leaver is set up for long-term career success.