THE Ministry of Defence has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the skills of former service people among businesses in York.

Brigadier Greville Bibby, regional commander for the Army, welcomed large employers in the York area to a dinner event at which he asked businesses to remember former service people when recruiting new staff.

He said: “Today’s armed forces use cutting-edge technology to its limit. However, technical abilities are not the only attributes that service leavers have to offer employers.

“Service leavers have unrivalled experience and excellent personal qualities. They have been tested in highly demanding and pressured situations, being used to taking responsibility for their actions and getting things right first time. They are quick to learn, picking up new skills and they adapt to new circumstances with ease. They are self-disciplined and motivated problem-solvers who will get a task done, whatever it takes.

“In addition to offering such professional and technical abilities, service leavers are also skilled in planning, organising, teamwork, communication, man-management, and leadership - all skills which have been honed in some of the toughest environments.”

The dinner, supported by NatWest, heard from military personnel how their valuable skills, training and qualifications could help enhance private sector skills.

Paul Forth, business development director for NatWest Commercial Banking in York, said NatWest had been working with City of York Council on positive messages for the city’s economy when it came across the opportunity. The bank used its network of businesses to bring the Ministry of Defence (MoD) together with businesses.

He said: “The Army is a big local employer and these guys are very skilled. They’re coming to the end of their time with the services and they’re looking for jobs back in civilian life.

“There were some major employers in the York area at the event and this was an opportunity for them to understand these guys are coming into the jobs market and they have got some very good skills. And we found that knowledge of that varied from company to company.”

The MoD works with employers through the Career Transition Partnership, which helps personnel between two years before they leave the forces and two years after.