Read more on how Carillion engages with Her Majesty's Armed Forces to recruit former service personnel and veterans at all levels.

1. CASE STUDY
The Carillion Recovery
Workplace Attachment
The Beginning
Carillion has a long history of engaging with Her Majesty's Armed
Forces and recruiting former service personnel and veterans at all
levels. Carillion was one of the original signatories of the Ministry of
Defence (MoD) Armed Forces Covenant established in October 2013.
The company is at the forefront or renewing and strengthening this
commitment.
As a leading UK company Carillion has a responsibility to recognise the
contribution of all who have served. Through engagement in long-term
contracts supporting Ministry of Defence (MoD) infrastructure, Carillion
has long been open to providing work placement provision for individuals
undergoing transition and seeking to embark on civilian careers.
Three years ago, Stephen Ainscough, Project Development Manager
Carillion Community Services took on the task of formalising what had
been an ad hoc process for dealing with requests for work placements from
the Personnel Recovery Unit (PRU). Personnel Recovery Units are military
units for the command and care of wounded, injured and sick personnel
to return to duty or transition to civilian life. Carillion has now established
their national Recovery Work Attachment (RWA) programme across its
business with Stephen Ainscough in the role of National Manager.
The aim of the programme is to offer work placement opportunities
to individuals who are seeking to embark on civilian careers. The
programme enables them to sample a range of career options and to
gain experience within Carillion's different businesses primarily across
Services and Construction. Individuals get to ‘try out' their different areas
of interest.
Carillion has partnered with the MoD's Recovery Career Services to ensure
these placement opportunities are available to wounded, injured or sick
service personnel. Placements last from a day to several months. There are
examples of individuals who have gone on to take up full- time roles in the
company. There are 11 Personnel Recovery Units throughout the UK.
The Process
The RWA programme follows the process outlined below:
STEP 1 Personnel Recovery Units forwards CV to Carillion
point of contact
STEP 2 The individual’s skills and requirements are
matched with work placement opportunities
STEP 3 One-to-one discussion with individuals to discuss
work placement
STEP 4 Individuals introduced to relevant Business Units
with Carillion to start placement
STEP 5 CV and interview help, mentoring and coaching
provided for individuals to assist them with
applying for a job within Carillion or elsewhere
Transition
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NETWORK
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2. CASE STUDY
“The individual
satisfaction you gain
from placing someone
and seeing them
develop is immense”
Stephen Ainscough -
Project Development Manager,
Carillion Community Services
Carillion has identified a network of employees across the UK who volunteer to act as
points of contact to work with the local Personnel Recovery Unit. These volunteers are
responsible for using their networks within the organisation to identify work placement
opportunities.
There is no set duration for a placement but individuals have the opportunity to have
more than one placement and to be placed in various functions and roles within
Carillion so that they can gain a wider range of experience. Although Carillion does not
guarantee employment at the end of the placements, individuals have the opportunity
to apply for any available vacancies within the organisation.
As well as placements, the RWA programme offers a range of proactive workshops
including developing CVs; interview practice and experiences; mentoring and coaching.
Carillion's focus is on enabling and empowering individuals to become employable
both within Carillion and elsewhere.
Outcome and Benefits
Since 2014, the RWA programme has placed 60 individuals into placement
opportunities within Carillion. Of these, 16 have led to employment Carillion in
Supply Chain which has a key role in supporting the 2020 Sustainability Strategy. The
RWA programme along with a number of other military engagement programmes at
Carillion, helps support this Strategy.
Engaging in helping the armed forces helps employee morale within the organisation as
well giving Carillion access to a diverse and highly skilled workforce.
Above and beyond these benefits, Carillion as a company believes that it is the right
thing to do. As Stephen Ainscough says: “If we can help service personnel in their
transition by guiding them and mentoring them to choose the career path that is right
for them, then that is the most important thing. The individual satisfaction you gain
from placing someone and seeing them develop is also immense.”
The benefits of the RWA programme are tangible. Sally Varley (Former RAF Air Traffic
Controller and Airport Manager) undertook work placements with Carillion and since
September 2015 has been Senior Business Development Manager, Carillion Defence
and Security. She also serves as Wing Commander Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF)
and is the Defence business Reservist champion in Carillion.
Sally is a Carillion Ambassador for how effective the RWA programme is in providing
genuine opportunities. Sally values the experience of working in a civilian environment
with support that allowed her to recognise the career path she wanted to follow and to
develop networks within the organisation.
Moving Forward
Carillion currently employs over 500 veterans. The RWA programme is one of several
military engagement programmes within the company. Carillion offers placements via
the BuildForce, Armed Force Employment Pathway and attachments for serving Royal
Engineers to gain technical experience.
The RWA programme has grown from strength-to-strength over the past three years
and has attracted considerable support throughout the organisation. Working with the
Career Transition Partnership and the local Personnel Recovery Units, there are plans
to further promote the programme with a view to increasing the number of future
placements.
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