From one force to another: the vital role of military veterans in the construction sector

As the demand for skilled workers across the construction and infrastructure industry continues to grow, we must look to untapped pools of talent to ensure we can meet the demands of the market – and one of the most valuable, yet under-utilised sources of talent is military veterans.

Neil Dalton is defence work winning director at Balfour Beatty and a veteran who served in the Army Air Corps for 32 years

According to the latest data by the Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCA), there are over 2.4M veterans in Great Britain. Of these, 40% are between 16 and 64 years old and most critically, 70% are trained in STEM-based subjects.

But it is not just their background in STEM. They also have skills in leading teams through challenging situations, strategic thinking, managing complex situations and they thrive when performing under pressure. All of these skills are highly transferable and indispensable for a career in our industry. Therefore it is important that we facilitate and support our ex-servicemen and women.

We have made great strides at Balfour Beatty to do just this, having recently secured fourth place out of 50 companies in the Great British Employers of Veterans 2024 Awards. We have always employed veterans but we have taken a much more structured and proactive approach since we signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2015 and launched our Military Talent Pathway in early 2022.

Balfour Beatty currently employs over 300 veterans, representing well over 2% of our UK workforce and we have ambitious goals to grow our numbers, targeting to hire at least 200 this year. We also recognise the need to ensure veterans retain their identity as such, which is why today we’ve launched the Mulberry and Allies Network, a new forum dedicated to supporting veterans entering and within Balfour Beatty.

Balfour Beatty’s Mulberry and Allies Network

The Mulberry and Allies Network is designed to ease the transition from military service to a civilian career. The network provides tailored support, mentorship and various other resources to help veterans leverage their unique skillsets into the construction industry. Beyond the initial induction, we recognise the need to foster a sense of community and belonging throughout their journey with us - a community that moves and grows together. By connecting new starters with colleagues who share similar backgrounds, the Mulberry and Allies Network facilitates knowledge exchange, mutual support and professional growth.

The network also offers tailored training programmes specifically designed to bridge any gaps between military and construction skills. It aims to help and support veterans hit the ground running and make immediate, positive contributions to our business. To effectively bring these skilled workers to our industry and retain them, we also provide mentors to provide guidance and help them navigate the corporate environment and culture, which makes a significant difference in their transition.

As a company, it makes business sense to acknowledge and embrace the skills and values that veterans bring and support them throughout their careers, so that they can enrich our workforce and sharpen our competitive edge in the industry. With over 14,000 service leavers annually, veterans provide a rich vein of talent to tap into, so it is important embrace the invaluable skills and values they bring to the table, not just because it is the right thing to do but to help address the industry-wide skills gap.

The message is clear; supporting veteran employees is not just a corporate responsibility, it’s a strategic advantage that companies can benefit from immensely.