Rishi Sunak pledges £2.1million to give veterans high-flying jobs under new scheme to help ‘swap uniform for suit’
VETERANS will bag high-flying jobs under a government scheme to help “swap the uniform for a suit”.
PM Rishi Sunak has today pledged £2.1million to give ex-squaddies support to take top positions in the City and beyond.
He told The Sun: “With their unparalleled resilience and resourcefulness, we should see our veterans for what they are — one of our nation’s greatest assets.”
Mr Sunak will today launch Operation Prosper to provide “wraparound employment” support for Britain’s former soldiers.
While the veteran employment rate is 89 per cent, thousands are still feared to have slipped through the cracks on leaving the Armed Forces.
Last year saw veteran homelessness increase to 2,110 from 1,850 in 2022.
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Ministers believe high-paid roles in cyber, digital and financial services are especially well-suited to their skills.
Op Prosper will help connect veterans with bosses, as well as giving them help from expert career coaches.
It kicks off today with a “Veterans Connect” event, drawing executives from firms like Amazon and Centrica.
Accountants Deloitte has employed 7,000 veterans in the past 12 years.
Partner Chris Recchia hailed their “positive attitude and resilience”.
Mr Sunak added: “Those who have served in uniform are the best of us — and that doesn’t change when they swap the uniform for a suit or a hard hat.
“So I’m determined we will help these incredible men and women to thrive and contribute in civilian life.
“Put simply, we must serve them as well as they have served us.”
It follows a 12-month National Insurance relief for firms hiring veterans, and the recent rollout of Veteran Cards so ex-squaddies can identify themselves for dedicated jobs.
Help our heroes
By Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister
RECENTLY I met veteran Mark Harding.
In 2010 he was shot in the neck in Afghanistan and told he would never walk again.
But last year he did just that, walking from John O’Groats to Land’s End for charity.
Think of everything that veterans like Mark have given for our nation.
Think of what they’re still giving in civilian life.
And then ask yourself: are we doing enough to support them?
To all those who have served in uniform I have a simple pledge: we are going to make this the best country in the world to be a veteran.
That’s why we are completely transforming how the government deals with our best and bravest, delivering more support with a new Office for Veterans’ Affairs, a dedicated Veterans Minister in the Cabinet, and the first ever draft Veterans Bill.
I know Sun readers will be proud to get behind our bid to host the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.
With their unparalleled resilience and resourcefulness, we should see our veterans for what they are: one of our nation’s greatest assets.
And we need to recognise that many of our veterans are still young – ready to take on a new challenge and second career.
We have put a focus on helping veterans into good jobs. But today we’re going further.
Those who have served in uniform are the best of us – and that doesn’t change when they swap the uniform for a suit or a hard hat.
So I’m determined that we will help these incredible men and women to thrive and contribute in civilian life.
Put simply, we must serve them as well as they have served us.