Army Reserve-Pertemps partnership aids Service leavers and reservists into driving jobs
Employment - RecruitingEnglandCovenant disadvantageMay 9, 2016
Service leavers and reservists faced barriers accessing civilian driving jobs.
What was the situation?
Service leavers and reservists are able to develop valuable driving skills during their military service, but they cannot always get the certifications needed for equivalent civilian employment. Military driver training qualifies personnel to operate large goods vehicles in the Armed Forces. However, civilian licences are often needed to work in the commercial haulage industry. This can create barriers to employment for those leaving Service, or those looking for work alongside their Reserve commitments.
What made this Covenant disadvantage?
Due to the nature of Service, Service leavers and reservists may have military qualifications and experiences that do not directly transfer to civilian jobs. Obtaining additional qualifications needed by civilian employers can be expensive and may limit employment opportunities. This is unlike civilian jobseekers, who are more likely to train for the equivalent civilian qualifications.
What was done to help?
The Army Reserve partnered with civilian employment agency Pertemps – a Covenant signatory that provides drivers to the haulage industry – to help Service leavers and reservists into civilian employment. Through the scheme, Service leavers and reservists who join the Royal Logistic Corps as drivers can gain both military driver training, and the civilian driving certificate needed to work in the haulage industry.
Pertemps funded the additional training required for participants to obtain their civilian large goods vehicle licence, a qualification that usually costs around £1,000. Upon completion of their training, participants were guaranteed part-time work over the year, to help them move out of unemployment. The scheme was also developed in response to a skills shortage within the haulage industry, while providing employment opportunities for members of the Armed Forces community.
What was the outcome?
The partnership helped Service leavers and reservists overcome employment barriers by enabling them to gain civilian driving qualifications and guaranteed employment.
Speaking at the Covenant signing at Wellington Barracks, London, the Minister for Reserves Julian Brazier said:
“This partnership demonstrates how reserve service can provide direct benefit to employers as well as their employees. I welcome this innovative approach from the Army Reserve, which offers an attractive well-paid role combining service in the Army Reserve and a job with a supportive employer.”
Kent Thompson, Managing Director of Pertemps added:
“As an ex-REME Craftsman myself, I am aware of the camaraderie that exists in the Army, which we are trying to replicate in Pertemps and our logistic clients. We offer free up-skilling to all military personnel on our LGV vehicles, so that they can come and work for us!”
Lance corporal Baboucarr Jallow from Leeds is currently going through the Pertemps training. Speaking about the scheme he said:
“Pertemps supported my ambition to get my professional driving qualification by guaranteeing me employment. Now I can qualify and know that I’ll have a job at the end of it.”
You can read more about the initiative here:
Wider information
You can read more widely about:
- Covenant disadvantage and special provision (the two types of case study in this database)
- Covenant support for the Armed Forces community: Civilian employment
- How businesses can support the Armed Forces community and implement the Covenant
Disclaimer: This case study is part of the Covenant case study database. MOD has developed the database to illustrate examples of good practice for organisations in scope of the Covenant. It serves as a guide for effective Covenant delivery, offering practical insights into achieving fairness for the Armed Forces community. Delivery of the Covenant may vary across the UK. This means there is no guarantee the solution outlined in this case study is available in your area.