🎙️ Introducing Mission Employable UK – Your Transition, Your Story

Deborah Collier
3 days ago
3 min read

For some time, I've been pondering on setting up a podcast, to support service personnel transition successfully to civvy street. As Bronze holders of the Employer Recognition Scheme, moving to Silver, I wanted Careers Ideas Ltd to do something more than what we do already in support transitioning service members and their families. After watching the final film in the Mission Impossible film series, the idea and name was born:-

Mission Employable UK, created by me, a service leaver, aimed at service leavers everywhere. Each episode will focus on key issues around navigating the many challenges that come with stepping out of military life and into the civvy street.

Transitioning from service life to civilian employment can feel like you’re walking across a minefield of information: “Which qualifications count?”, “How do I translate my skills’?”, “What do employers really want on a CV?”, “Which companies genuinely understand someone from the Armed Forces?” I've been there and I know how overwhelming it can be. That’s why this podcast is built by someone who gets it and it's aimed squarely at our military community. Not just serving soldiers, but spouses and children of serving personnel too.

What you can expect

“Demystifying the CWA (Civil Work Attachment) and career path options” — we’ll talk about the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) support, qualifications, and other routes that don’t always sound straight forward but matter.
“What your military skills REALLY mean in civvy street” — you did the job, you’ve got the training and the discipline, now let’s translate that into language (and outcomes) employers understand.
“CVs: the do’s & don’ts” — how to frame your experience, choose the right words, avoid military only language, and present yourself with confidence.
“Employer Recognition, and finding the right company for you” — did you know there are companies that support the Armed Forces community? We’ll explore the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and what it means when a business is “forces-friendly”.
“Real stories. Real people.” — we’ll chat with service leavers, military spouses, employment specialists, Defence Recognition Scheme directors and researchers. These are candid, honest, lived experience conversations with actionable insights.

Why this matters

The statistics show we’re doing well, but there’s still more to do.

In the 2023-24 financial year, among UK Regular service-leavers who used a billable CTP service, 88 % were employed six months after leaving service. GOV.UK Assets+1
That said, unemployment in that same group was 5 %, and economic inactivity stood at 8 %. GOV.UK Assets+1
We also know that in the wider veteran community, at least 1 in 25 people in the UK are veterans, and nearly half (47 %) of those are of working age. GOV.UK +1
A recent research report emphasises that the external environment for transition is growing ever more complex: cost of living pressures, information overload, shifting labour markets, increasingly digital recruitment. RAND Corporation+1

In short: you have real skills; you have solid potential; opportunities are there but you also face real barriers and choices. This podcast is about helping you make sense of it all, and giving you the tools to move forward confidently.

Who this is for

You’re leaving or have left the military (regular or reserve), and you’re looking ahead to your next chapter.
You’re a spouse or partner of someone in the armed forces, and you’re navigating your own path or supporting someone who is.
You're the child of an Armed Forces family, struggling to navigate the employment market due to multiple moves and discontinuity of education
You’re an employer, recruiter or ERS member who wants to understand how to tap into the amazing talent that service leavers and their family bring.

What’s next

🎧 My first episode will be dropping soon across a range of media outlets including Spotify and Apple music, I'll let you know right here and on my social channels.📬 If you have a topic you’d like me to cover (for example: “How do I talk about leadership in a CV?”, or “What does the ERS award really mean for me?”), drop me a line, I'd love to hear from you.🔗 Follow me on LinkedIn (and on my website) so you don’t miss out on behind-the-scenes, guest highlights and practical tips.

Final thoughts

Changing from military life into civilian employment is more than just a job search. It’s about identity, purpose, value.

Mission Employable UK is here to offer practical insights to help make the journey a little less daunting. 🟢