FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
UK building services and engineering firm, Integral, has signed the Armed Forces Covenant, a pledge that those who serve or have served in the armed forces and their families will be treated fairly in society.
The covenant focuses on helping members of the armed forces community have the same access to government, commercial services, and employment opportunities as any other citizen, including education and family well-being, finding a home, starting a new career, access to healthcare, financial assistance, and discounted services.
Each year, thousands of people leave the military and transition back into civilian life. Integral has many long-term staff members, from leadership to its engineering teams, who are proud to be ex-armed forces personnel, making it a passionate cause for the business.
Gary Woods, Operations Director, corporate sector, aged 17, at his passing out ceremony
Gary Woods (pictured right) served in the Royal Navy as a weapons engineer and is now responsible for strategic and operational leadership across the UK and Ireland within the Integral corporate sector as Operations Director. Andrew Ferris, an engineering shift lead at a client critical facility in London, served as a private for four and a half years before completing an engineering diploma and electrical apprenticeship at Canterbury University College. Both men are great examples of ex-services staff who have successfully made the transition.
According to a 2022 YouGov survey, 71 per cent of employers believe ex-service personnel bring a strong work ethic to their organisation, while 42 per cent highlighted the potential benefits of recruiting them to fill skills gaps, an especially crucial factor at a time when all sorts of industries are feeling the impact of prolonged labour shortages.
James Baker, Talent Acquisition Lead for Integral, said: “Veterans are often recognised for their broad skill sets – notably, team-working, motivating others, communication, problem-solving, organisational skills and strategic thinking. With higher levels of staff retention and lower rates of absence, businesses can be confident when hiring veterans that their staff are loyal and resilient, as well as consistently reliable. Veterans are well-placed to meet critical gaps in FM because there are immediate opportunities for a second career in the sector.”
Peter Jones, Integral Managing Director, added: “As an industry, we can make a difference for a crucial but underrepresented group by offering ex-service personnel, and their families, safety and security, job opportunities that harness their skills, learning & development, career progression and a community. The FM and engineering industry has massive potential to support ex-personnel due to multiple transferrable skills, including the vital skill of being able to perform under pressure by remaining level-headed. This enables a smooth transition into civilian life which can be difficult for many veterans. In these roles, they can thrive, feel fulfilled, and have any additional support needed.”
Integral will be actively recruiting from multiple Armed Forces recruitment agencies in 2023 and beyond.
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