Tesco found as the most popular company for former Army personnel to work for

According to the world’s biggest job website Indeed, it has been revealed that Tesco is the most popular employer for Army employees, with around one in 100 previous soldiers working for the business almost straight after leaving their roles in the military.

So why is Tesco a popular option for ex-military? Bill Richards, UK managing director at global jobs site Indeed, comments on the reasoning behind this, saying “Former soldiers have traditionally been prized by employers for their discipline, work ethic and problem-solving ability. Coveted skills like these stand out to employers competing for staff in a tight labour market and companies should consider how they can appeal more to former service personnel.

Companies similar to attracting a high number of ex-soldiers include BAE Systems, Royal Mail, Asda, and the NHS. Also notable is the preference for private sector placements. While the NHS and the Ministry of Defence feature in the top ten, most former army personnel leave the public sector behind after completing their service.

However, it is a known fact that a significant number of ex-military after their service are more likely to have issues with homelessness, depression, or misuse of alcohol. Unemployment among this group is also a staff issue. With approximately 50,000 thousand ex-forces struggling with their careers in the UK today. In addition to this, the Household Survey of the ex-Service community found that working-age veterans are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as their equivalents in the UK general population (11% vs 6%).

In an attempt to combat this issue, The MOD’s Career Transition Partnership has supported veterans into the next stage of their careers through one-to-one career guidance, vocational training, events, networking and employment opportunities for serving people on this plan for two years before they leave the Armed Forces. Helping them adapt well to a civilian job or other education options.

Tobias Ellwood, Minister for Defence People and Veterans, said: “With admirable qualities such as leadership, dedication and teamwork, those who have served are an asset to any organisation. The Career Transition Partnership team plays an ever more vital role in helping our people navigate the many opportunities open to them.”

This programme has so far supported 250,000 veterans and recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in business.

When looking into what roles are the most sought after for employees who leave the military, the most popular role is a lorry driver, with one in 25 ex-soldiers moving into this role. In addition to this, other popular roles are a warehouse worker, customer service representative, and a labourer.

Tobias commented on these popular roles among ex-soldiers, saying “While former soldiers may need some support entering into the civilian workforce, employers are increasingly targeting them as a talent pool rich with people who have highly transferable skills, experience and leadership capabilities”

He finished by commenting on the surprisingly high number of ex-military who decide to go for similar roles in supermarket positions, saying: “It’s striking that so many former Army personnel find jobs at supermarkets upon leaving the military. The popularity of supermarkets among former soldiers is also likely to reflect the sheer volume of vacancies Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s are always having to fill.”

Although it may be surprising that a number of ex-military are in these roles, this is seeming to have a positive impact on overall employment rates for ex-service, as research from Gov.uk found that “Employment rates of ex-service personnel have risen, according to new figures released this week by the Ministry of Defence. Figures reveal 88% are either back in employment, education, or volunteer work within 6 months of transitioning back into civilian life, following support from the MOD’s Career Transition Partnership (CTP).”