Joining Forces with Reservists for Recruitment Support

RPS' Newark, UK office, based at the former Drill Hall on Sherwood Avenue, Newark, is working with the armed forces to recruit military service leavers or reservists with transferable skills that soldiers can bring into the civilian work place. The regular and reserve soldiers from 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group have a variety of skills, and RPS recognises that these experienced people can contribute to providing engineering design consultancy services for our £multi-million commercial projects across the UK.

RPS' Newark office signed the Armed Forces Covenant in November 2015 pledging to promote that we are an Armed Forces friendly organisation; supporting the employment of veterans and the needs of employees in the Reserve Forces by accommodating training and deployment commitments, including participating in Armed Forces Day.

The office currently has two ex-soldiers within our engineering design teams, and another will join in the next few weeks.

Staff Sergeant Phil Mabbitt is a Senior Engineering Co-ordinator and serves as a Reservist with 203 (Loughborough) Transport Squadron. He said: “RPS has been very supportive of my Reserve commitments as they understand the benefits that serving in the Reserve Forces can bring to the business. If employees at RPS Newark gain new engineering qualifications through their civilian work, this could help them to rise through the ranks in their Reserve Forces career also.”

Ben Fewster is an Engineering Technician at RPS’ Newark office and starts service with the Reserves in the near future working with 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group, but also alongside 299 Parachute Engineer Squadron.

“Having left the services in October 2015 but wanting to start work with the reserves, it has been great to know that RPS is fully behind my decision to do so. The fact that I can maintain contact with my airborne roots with 299 and also be of benefit to 170, with my new-found commercial experience, is an ideal situation for me and I eagerly anticipate the start of this arrangement”.

To develop this relationship, the office has entered a partnership agreement with the Army’s 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group (hybrid regular and reserve unit) to provide work placements for regular (full time) soldiers who are soon to leave the Army.

Lance Corporal Richard Stacey is soon to start a work placement at the Newark office as he prepares to leave his nine year military career behind. Richard said: “RPS is a large multidisciplinary company which could bring many new opportunities to its employees. I initially met RPS when they attended what is known as a Regular Familiarisation Event, which explored possible resettlement opportunities available to personnel who are soon to leave the Forces.

“At the moment I’m looking to gain experience working for a civilian company, so the work placement is a great opportunity. In the future though I may be interested in expanding my engineering qualifications to work towards becoming a Chartered Engineer, and I believe RPS could help me achieve this.”

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise from the nation that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly. The Covenant is a national responsibility involving government, businesses, local authorities, charities and the public.

It provides an opportunity for employers to confirm publicly that they recognise the value serving personnel, Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our country and that they will endeavour to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are:

• No member of the Armed Forces Community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen;
• In some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved.

The aim of the Covenant is to ensure that the Armed Forces Community faces no disadvantage in their engagement with business. It encourages companies to develop a relationship with members of the Armed Forces Community who work in their business or access their products or services.

David Dunbar, Operational Director of RPS’ Newark office said “With the current skills shortage in the construction and engineering industries, this initiative provides an excellent opportunity for RPS to recruit very talented and experienced service personnel into our design consultancy in Newark, whilst supporting our reservists in their training and deployment commitments”.