The new Labour government has announced bold plans for rail and, though much will change in the next few years, many things will stay the same. The network, for instance, will continue to expand and modernise, and a robust, skilled, and disciplined workforce will always be required.
But where to source new recruits? Ex-armed forces personnel have long been a welcome and valued addition to the rail family, bringing essential skills and a pro-active attitude that makes them attractive to employers.
The industry currently employs hundreds of ex-armed forces personnel as well as those who are currently serving as reserves and, while working in rail may not seem quite as exciting as defending land, air, and sea, the industry offers unique challenges and rewards. It also provides a stable path for those transitioning to civilian life.
Wealth of experience
As well as providing much-needed people power, ex-armed forces personnel and reservists bring a wealth of experience and attributes that align seamlessly with the needs of the sector. And, with a broad range of roles on offer across the industry, in a number of disciplines, they can use their skills in any number of ways. Whether that’s by helping to build and maintain the network’s infrastructure, keeping locomotives or railside machinery in service, or ensuring a busy station runs like clockwork and passengers are well informed, the opportunities appear endless.
Matt Dickenson spent 23 years in the armed forces as a vehicle mechanic in the Corps of Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers. During his career he deployed on operations to the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He is now Hitachi Rail’s head of heavy maintenance delivery for UK West.
“The skillset obtained by people in the Army ranges from maintenance through to engineering and beyond,” he says. “Having been tested and developed ‘in the field’, they have great potential for work in other sectors, including rail. In our depots and factories across the world, we actively hire veterans with those honed skills.”
“In order to prepare myself for leaving the Army, I studied for a master’s degree, became a chartered engineer and gained project management qualifications. Little did I know I left the army with a tremendous amount lot of highly valuable and transferable skills.”
The right attitude
Individuals with experience of the armed forces provide a broad skillset that is highly sought-after in Rail’s safety-critical work environment. Teamwork, leadership, discipline, and good communication are all attributes drilled into military recruits at the early stages of their career.
Military personnel are also accustomed to working in a fast-paced environment where quick thinking, decisiveness, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are all crucial qualities. It also helps that they are accustomed to relocating at the drop of a hat, depending on their assignment.
“People with military experience are a great fit,” says Paul Capener, managing director of Xeiad, a provider of difficult-access civil infrastructure inspections, “because they’re focused, they understand what their objectives are, and they don’t have issues with travelling for site work or staying away from home.
“All of that ties in perfectly with what we’re trying to do. If we can attract individuals from engineering divisions within the military, then we’re employing people who already have the relevant competencies we require.”
Equally, East Midlands rail maintenance firm MTMS has a long history of recruiting veterans and reservists, thanks to the qualities they bring and their willingness to work unsociable hours.
“Those who work in the armed forces bring with them a wide range of qualities from their days in service which can be transferred to our industry,” says Malcolm Prentice, MTMS group chair.
“This industry does involve working independently and unsociable hours as well as being away from home – all something that they are used to.”
Home from home
Along with other train operating companies, Northern employs dozens of people with military experience and, in 2021, signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a commitment to supporting the employment of veterans and recognising military skills and qualifications across its business.
The company’s finance director, Richard Hinds, is a former serviceman who served as a platoon commander of the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment for four years before he left the military in 2000. He says that by providing structure, a sense of purpose, and camaraderie, the railway offers veterans a familiar experience that they may struggle to find in other industries.
“Forces life is quite different to civilian life. It’s more than a job and you’re living alongside the people you work with so there is a real comradeship,” he says. “In the railway you get some elements of civilian life, but also some elements of military life. It feels like a family and there’s a certain culture and a togetherness.
“Both are underpinned by strong values – discipline, integrity, a strong work ethic, and taking pride in what you do. There are also lots of commonalities in the skills, knowledge and ways of working.”
Debra Park, a customer service assistant at Whitehaven station agrees. She was in the Army Reserve for 22 years before she left in 2002, and worked as a heavy goods driver, a medic, and in a training role.
“Even now I still miss it, and I made friends for life,” she says. “A lot of people who leave the military are looking for structure and the railway offers that. You need to run to time, be disciplined, and be able to take and execute orders.
“I would definitely recommend the railway to people who are leaving the forces and I think the railway benefits from having them. They understand that sometimes you need to stay late and go the extra mile to make sure we can get our customers where they need to go.”
Recruits required
With major rail projects underway to improve connectivity and capacity across the network, the search for new recruits is as pressing as ever, and contractors attached to these schemes are eager to attract workers with the experience, knowledge, and drive that ex-service men and women bring to the table.
HS2 is just one project welcoming former service personnel and supporting their transition into new careers. Already, 83 former service men and women have moved into full-time roles on the project, with over 60 more taking up industry placements and hundreds benefiting from mentoring to support their adjustment to life outside of military service. And, with three new world-class stations to be built, there are hundreds more career and work placement opportunities to come.
By teaming up with community interest company BuildForce, HS2 has opened the doors to its 350 worksites and given ex-forces personnel an opportunity to apply their transitional skills in a completely different setting. HS2’s work placement programme has seen candidates progress into logistics, engineering, health and safety, and project management roles, with some candidates progressing into senior management positions.
Andrew Mackinnon served in the Royal Air Force as an IT security specialist but on leaving military service, struggled to find employment that matched his skillset. He approached BuildForce for support and they referred him directly to Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV), HS2’s construction partner for the West Midlands.
Recognising his skills, the BBV team offered Andrew a paid work placement, which he began in November 2023. Now, Andrew is a valued member of the BBV Innovation team, where he focuses on implementing new work processes and driving efficiencies across the project.
“Joining Balfour Beatty VINCI marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in my career, after leaving the Royal Air Force last year,” said Andrew. I’m really enjoying working on this iconic infrastructure project, which I feel is the perfect platform to relaunch my career from. The transition has been made much easier thanks to the support I’ve received from Buildforce and BBV throughout this entire process.”
Speaking about its partnership with HS2, Caroline Logan, programme director at BuildForce said: “The depth of the skillsets within our military community is constantly responding to the changing needs of HS2 and we look forward to the future, supporting more ex-military candidates onto the project.”
Continued service
The rail industry is crying out for new recruits and offers outstanding opportunities in a sector that shares many of the same values as the Armed Forces. It is an excellent career for those transitioning to civilian life or who continue to serve as a reservist. Your service to the country doesn’t have to end once your Armed Forces career comes to a close. Use the skills and positive attitude you’ve developed over the years to help build, maintain, and support the UK’s most important transport asset.
Image credit: iStockphoto.com
