Whether you have already left the forces or your enlistment is due to end, the transition to civilian life can be difficult, especially if you’re unsure of what to do next. Roles in the forces give many transferable skills that can benefit you in a wide range of jobs. Making the best use of these skills and supporting them with Enhanced Learning Credits (ELC) work will give you a head start in finding a new career path. 

Engineering a Brighter Future

Engineering is a broad term. There are hundreds of engineering positions in the Army, the RAF and the Navy which are all worlds apart. Similarly, in the energy industry, the number of engineering specialisms is vast within each sector – nuclear, renewables, oil and gas require different skills. However, an armed forces engineering background will have equipped you with practical and analytical skills that can be applied to provide solutions to technical problems – a skillset that’s much sought after in the energy sector. 

The energy sector is growing in the UK and around the world. Renewable energy in particular is an industry where engineers are needed as more and more sites are being built. Wind and solar farms are a massive growth sector, with the storage of the energy an emerging hotbed. Batteries will be big business in the coming years, with engineering positions aplenty. 

ELC and Courses

We recommend that anyone leaving the forces should take advantage of the MOD’s Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELC), which provides financial support for higher level learning and qualifications such as NVQs and Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNCs and HNDs). You can begin using the scheme whilst still in the forces, and up to five years after having left. Many qualifications allow you to use experience and qualifications earned whilst in the Army, RAF or Navy towards further qualifications. 

Additional courses are available to make you more appealing to employers. NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health) qualifications can be helpful particularly for jobs offshore in oil and gas, or jobs at height in renewables. Many employers will provide health and safety training. However, different types of qualifications have different longevity. PCN qualifications allow you take the accreditation with you and work as a contractor. SCN qualifications belong to the employer and can be more restrictive in their application. So, if you are looking to get H&S qualifications to aid job applications, going for more generic courses will serve you better in the long run whilst showing an employer your commitment to the industry. 

We know that the skills and training an engineer receives in the forces makes them a perfect candidate for many of the jobs we see in the sector. We can help you find a job that will set you on the path for a career in an industry with long term prospects and rewarding benefits. 

If you’re an ex-forces engineer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, email your CV and cover letter to cvs@peoplewithenergy.co.uk and we’ll get back to you with positions that suit you. 

If you have any questions about any of our recruitment services, give our office a call on +44 (0) 1502 564892. Or you can always email us at headoffice@peoplewithenergy.co.uk.

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