Nine new utility sector employers have agreed to work with the Ministry of Defence and other government departments to attract more ex-armed forces personnel to the sector.
Facilitated through the Energy and Utilities Skills Partnership, the nine companies have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, which supports current and ex-service personnel and their families.
It recognises former military personnel have valuable experience and skills which could be used in civilian work such as the utilities sector.
The nine new signatories include:
- Cadent
- Clancy
- Electricity North West Limited
- FCC Environment
- Northumbrian Water
- Northern Gas Networks
- Thames Water
- Wales and West Utilities
- Welsh Water
Meanwhile, existing signatories which support the collaboration include:
- Amey
- Anglian
- Balfour Beatty
- Centrica
- ON
- Kier
- National Grid
- Morrison Utility Services
- Scottish Power
- Scottish Water
- South West Water
- SGN
- UK Power Network
- United Utilities
- Veolia
The utilities sector is currently facing a skills shortage and there is concern that more than 200,000 people will need to be recruited before the end of the next decade in order to meet target.
Nick Ellins, chief executive of Energy and Utility Skills, said: “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 Ministry Of Defence, Defence Relationship Management and Department of Work and Pensions, 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.”