Networking group encourages veterans to seek FM careers

Recruitment solutions are being addressed by the IWFM Networking Group for Veterans through encouraging more interaction with stakeholders throughout the military services and FM industry

There are numerous advantages from interacting with ex-service personnel, many of whom have received high levels of training and developed considerable expertise and skills during their military careers.

This is not a new realisation, of course, and this view is supported by the fact that FM industry professionals frequently state they look to employ military veterans to fill vacancies before looking elsewhere.

With approximately 20,000 veterans leaving their military careers every year, many of these will have skills that make them highly desirable within the FM industry.

Increasing efforts are being launched to support the transition of ex-service personnel into FM and the latest of these is the IWFM Veterans Networking Group, founded by chair Louisa Clarke, vice chair and Integrated Estates Management (IEM) founding director Alistair Scott, Sodexo chief operating officer, Government Mark Baker, Mitie managing director Defence Charlie Antelme and PestGone Environmental director Mark Moseley, which has attracted a number of additional industry professionals – many of whom are veterans – with the aim of providing extensive levels of support for both individuals leaving the armed service and companies seeking to provide them with employment opportunities.

FM Director met with One Feather Coaching director Ms Clarke, Mr Scott and committee member and 300 North co-founder and director Michelle Connolly to hear about the group and its aims for the future. Fellow committee members include Lorne Stewart chief executive officer Mark Sutcliffe (see FM Director June 2023).

Mr Sutcliffe included strong references to the value of the high levels of training and experience provided by his armed service career in his interviews last year, adding further to the conviction cited by many of the value of promoting the FM industry to those leaving the services and increasing the levels of support available to them.

“We formed the IWFM Veterans Networking Group last year after meeting numerous times in 2022/23 and the majority of our committee members are veterans, so understand the advantages that a military career brings to FM, and also the challenges that they may face,” says Ms Clarke, who is also a veteran. “I’d also like to recognise the excellent efforts of IWFM’s Jonathan Nobbs, as without his unwavering support we would not have made the Veterans Networking group a reality.

“The IWFM changed its constitution in July last year to establish the group initially, but we then began to organise our first event, held at the National Arboretum in collaboration with the IWFM Midlands Regional Special Interest Group (SIG) and that will be followed by more in 2024,” she continues.

Her comments are supported by fellow committee members including Mr Scott, who states: “This is an opportunity that is second to none in providing service leavers with a clear transition route whilst concurrently enabling collaboration across the FM industry, all based on the unwavering camaraderie of veterans. The group has been formed to include veterans from all branches of the armed forces and providing a rich seam of diverse skills and abilities.”

His views are further extended by those of Ms Connolly: “It’s vital we encourage businesses in the sector to look for talent from diverse backgrounds to keep the sector innovative. FM is an outstanding career choice, particularly for veterans and service leavers whose unparalleled discipline, strategic thinking, and leadership skills are tailor-made for the diverse challenges faced daily in the sector.

“By attracting these highly skilled veterans, we not only enrich our workforce but also ensure that our operations benefit from their proven abilities in managing complex scenarios and leading teams under pressure.

“Their transition into our sector is not just a fit, it’s a strategic advantage,” says Ms Connolly.

First event

The Welcoming Veterans into FM event opened with a keynote speech from Pareto FM chair Mark Rogerson that was followed by a presentation from Ms Clarke and Mr Scott to explain about the group and its aims and ambitions. Delegates included a mix of those about to finish their military service, veterans and FM industry professionals, providing a positive initial start and allowing valuable contacts to be made.

Additional presentations later that day included Mr Sutcliffe’s explanation of his journey to his senior role and his belief that the various attributes and experiences gained within his Royal Navy career provided him with an excellent preparatory skillset.

Further contributions from employment charities and organisations were delivered by JobOppO director Garrath Williams, Hire A Veteran founding partner Dan Wilkinson, and Resourcing Group divisional manager Joanne Cabannes and her colleague director Deborah Longstaff.

The final session of the day consisted of a panel debate hosted by Pareto FM sales director Adam Phillips, who is also a military veteran and another committee member. One of the many areas of focus within presentations and discussions of the event was the value proposition of the IWFM Veterans Networking Group and its pledge to support veterans.

The signing of the Armed Forces Covenant by the IWFM has provided its group with significant points of focus within its pledge, including the promotion of the FM sector as a career of choice for those leaving the services. Included within this is the provision of a range of development opportunities for veterans and strengthen links with both employment agencies and potential employers.

“Another element of the pledge is to increase opportunities for veterans to have their competence and skills recognised, helping individuals to demonstrate these and increase the understanding of employers,” Ms Clarke continues.

“Additional aspects of the pledge include the removal of financial barriers for those wishing to access IWFM products, the creation of a welcoming and inspirational community (including veterans already established in FM careers), while encouraging the FM sector to develop work placement, training and mentoring programmes for ex-service personnel.

“The delivery of these elements will further assist the final part of the pledge, which is aimed at promoting the IWFM as an armed forces-friendly organisation,” says Ms Clarke, who also explains the 10-point plant that has been established to support the IWFM Veterans Networking Group in achieving its aims (see boxed out item below).

“We’re setting out all our objectives, the advantages these provide to veterans and explaining the importance of recruiting ex-service people into FM,” she continues.

“This will give those wishing to join the industry a clearly-defined route, as well as providing lots of support in the form of training, mentorship, etc.

“A lot of us have a military background and that’s definitely helped us to put everything in place, as well as explaining to employers about the long list of transferrable skills that veterans have,” says Ms Clarke.

With many warning bells sounding in recent years on both the shortage of potential workers in general, and skilled professionals in particular, the IWFM Veterans Networking Group will go a long way to assisting companies to find the best individuals and support them to become valuable members of the FM sector.