Nationwide Building Society is working with military veterans charity the Officers Association and the Ministry of Defence’s Career Transition Partnership to recruit ex-servicepeople into the banking group.

And Nationwide is getting a helping hand from the high-profile leading all-time try scorer for the England rugby union team and former RAF pilot Rory Underwood, who comments: “It can be a daunting prospect going into mainstream work after leaving the forces, and this is one way that not only simplifies that process but can also help alleviate some of the anxieties and trepidation that often comes with change.”

Initially, Nationwide is rolling the scheme out in communities in and around Swindon – where the firm has its HQ – because of the dense military populations of Wiltshire and neighbouring Oxfordshire. It cites “project management and the ability to work within complex organisations” as the key skills military leavers will bring the firm.

Laurie Hopkins, head of employment at the Officers Association, says: “As we see more Armed Forces redundancies announced companies like Nationwide have a great opportunity to seize the chance to play their part.”

Claire Jones, a resourcing partner within the Nationwide HR Team, also a former member of the British Army, manages the programme. She comments: “The military can give you an edge in business that otherwise could take years to develop. Project management becomes almost second nature; tough decisions can be taken under pressure, while loyalty and trust are driving forces behind getting the job done on time.”

• Another area keen to tap into ex-military talent is the offshore & subsea specialism within the oil & gas industries. 

Chris Finnigan, a senior health, safety and environment manager at construction and project services firm Ceona, which works extensively within the oil & gas industry, tells Recruiter: “An important consideration is that ex-military personnel are used to long spells in harsh environments away from their families, which is a reality for offshore workers of all kinds.” 

He also notes that many commercial divers are sourced from the Royal Engineers, the corps he was previously part of. See p5 of March 2013's edition of Recruiter for more.