The Ministry of Defence has revealed that its Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) in Moray will be relocated before April next year, in a move that could affect 27 RAF posts and 10 civilian jobs.
The announcement comes at the same time as news up to 30,000 more military personnel could lose their jobs, whoever wins the forthcoming General Election. This is according to the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), known rather aptly in the business as the nation’s “defence think tank”.
Rusi says it is inevitable the UK’s defence spending would drop below the Nato target of 2% of GDP. Its report adds that this means the combined strength of the Army, Navy and RAF could fall from 145,000 to 115,000 by 2020.
You may well be one of those service personnel who feel their job is under threat? Perhaps you’re unsure how to prepare for the worst case scenario? Or maybe you’ve already left the forces and are seeking new opportunities in the jobs market?
Well, when drawing up your new battle plan for future employment, it’s certainly worthwhile considering a career in construction.
For a kick-off, there is every chance you already possess all of the practical skills and technical knowhow the construction industry requires.
What’s more, no-one could argue you are unaccustomed to working as part of a team. And it would be a brave HR Manager who questioned whether you have enough experience of working at speed under pressure and in potentially hostile environments.
With the obvious exceptions of armed combat and morning kit inspections – though there’s many a site foreman in Scotland who fancies himself as a drill sergeant! – there is a broad overlap of roles between the armed forces and the construction industry.
And in an industry where talent and hard graft can quickly win recognition – and, of course, financial reward – it makes sense to take advantage of the wide range of new career opportunities currently available.
Where retraining may be required you can also take advantage the Career Transition Partnership, which offers a variety of resettlement courses, workshops and briefings.
One final thing to bear in mind: many employers recognise that recruiting talent and expertise from the Forces can give them an edge on their competition: they know only too well the valuable contribution you can add to their business model.
Do you have what it takes for a career in construction? Well, aatten-shun! . . . and forward march
Many former service personnel are finding a new role in the construction industry.