Shaping Portsmouth's Armed Forces Community

Local Interviews - Express FM

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Thursday, 5 December 2024 - 15 minutes

The vision of Shaping Portsmouth's Armed Forces Community programme is to make Portsmouth and the surrounding areas the best place to be in the UK for the Armed Forces Community.

The Armed Forces Community is made up of:

• Armed Forces Personnel (7500 in Portsmouth, 1500 in Thorney Island, 1800 in Gosport)
• Reservists
• Veterans
• Spouses and partners
• Children
• Extended family

They believe there to be over 41,500 ex-service men and women (veterans) in our community. The last census showed:

• The UK Armed Forces Community consists of 7 million people
• 2.03 million people reported they have served in the Armed Forces
• 3.8% or 1 in 25 of the population are veterans
• On average 16,000 people leave the Armed Forces every year
• 11,200 businesses in the UK have signed the Armed Forces Covenant
• % veterans per capita - Gosport 12.7%, Fareham 8.7%, Havant 6.9%, Portsmouth 6%

Why recruit from the Armed Forces Community?

• This incredibly adaptable and diverse talent pool are motivated and hardworking with a strong sense of loyalty. They hare highly trained. They train at every level. Military training develops the kind of skills that you may want in your employees. Self-confidence, determination, teamwork, problem solving, leadership and ability to work under pressure. The CMI estimates that comparable training would cost your organisation over £8000.

• Accredited skills – Leadership, management, facilitation, trainer, vocational trades and technical skills most of which is nationally recognised and accredited.

• Military trained personnel are fit, focused and positive with a can-do attitude.

• Exceptional team spirit with the ability to lead and follow, qualities that are seamlessly transferred to your organisation.

• The Armed Forces community sits at the heart of our community. Being armed forces friendly enables you to focus some of your CSR.

• Help attract multi-talented job seekers thus increasing the quality and diversity of your workforce. Attract and support dual role reservists that offer extraordinary variation and personal development improving retention in your org.

Call to Arms:

• They would like every business in Portsmouth to commit to signing the Armed Forces Covenant. They can do so here or can wait for our next event which will be during Armed Forces Week (23rd – 29 June 2025).

• Consider striving for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award. Once you have signed the Armed Forces Covenant you can nominate your business for the Bronze Award here.

• They would like businesses in Portsmouth to actively recruit from the Armed Forces Community. They can do so by registering with Career Transition Partnership, Forces Transition Group, Forces Families Jobs.

• Consider an Armed Forces Charity as your ‘official charity’ for 2025.

• They are looking for volunteers from the Armed Forces Community to support them with delivering their 5 strategic pillars.

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