Morgan Sindall Construction enables military service leavers to build careers in construction

Military service leavers and veterans are being encouraged to consider a career in the construction industry as part of their resettlement with the help of Morgan Sindall Construction.

Morgan Sindall Construction’s South West office is partnering with military charities and organisations across the region, connecting service leavers with work placements, training and job opportunities in construction.

These partnerships allow the construction industry to tap into a unique talent pool of 14,000 military personnel that leave the armed forces each year and are recognised for their leadership, teamwork and project management skills.

Morgan Sindall Construction has partnered with The Royal Marines Charity, an organisation that helps military service leavers to find meaningful second careers outside of the Corps.

This partnership has enabled several Royal Marines to secure work placements on major construction sites across the region, promoting the breadth of exciting career opportunities available within the sector.

Morgan Sindall Construction is also a founding partner of BuildForce, which is an alliance of construction employers, industry bodies and charities that support military service leavers to gain experience in construction.

Pat Boyle, managing director at Morgan Sindall Construction, said: “The construction industry is an exciting and growing sector to be joining and Morgan Sindall Construction recognises that service leavers acquire a range of skills and attributes during their military career that are directly transferable into the construction industry.
“In the South West, our partnership with The Royal Marines Charity has provided service leaders with the opportunity to get a first taste of working on a major construction site. Initiatives such as this allow us to raise awareness for what a career in the construction industry can offer to those soon to be leaving the armed forces.
“Morgan Sindall Construction is very proud to be a founding partner of BuildForce, which is a fantastic network of industry leaders, employers and service charities that work together to encourage this unique pool of talent to consider a rewarding, second career in construction.”

Becci Parriss, Career & Resourcing Business Partner at The Royal Marines Charity, said: “Work placements like these where Royal Marines in resettlement are able to experience first-hand the day to day work of a construction site are invaluable as they look to make the transition into civilian employment. We’re so grateful to employers like Morgan Sindall Construction for providing such a valuable opportunity.”

In Sherford, Plymouth, Morgan Sindall Construction recently supported weapons instructor, Sgt Chris Hindmarch as he undertook a week’s placement at the new Sherford Vale Primary School.

Here, Chris talks about his experience of working on a major construction site:

What is your role within the Royal Marines / where are you based?
A Sgt, Weapons Instructor serving at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines Lympstone.

How is the Royal Marines Charity / Morgan Sindall involved?
The Royal Marines Charity provide a link between service leavers and companies such as Morgan Sindall to provide on the job work experience prior to leaving the Royal Marines.

What is the objective of the placement?
To gain as much of an insight into civilian working life and the construction industry as possible.

What will you be doing at Sherford during your placement?
Shadowing the Site Manager during his daily duties.

What skills are you most looking forward to learning?
Knowledge of the build process from the very start of the project and also as much technical detail as possible.

What advice would you give to other members of the armed forces looking to learn construction skills, or have a career in construction?
The core skills that we learn in the Armed Forces are extremely transferable and shouldn't be underestimated. As I'm learning, the construction industry offers a vast variety of roles which suit force leavers.

Are you considering a future career in construction? If so why?
Yes 100%. I think the skills that I already have would be well suited to the construction industry in many respects and it is also an industry that is exciting, offers variety on a daily basis in terms of the tasks carried out and the people that you work with.

• For more information about this news release please contact Steph Bocking at Influential on 0161 239 5000 or email bocking@thisisinfluential.com