Veterans: UK industry needs you…
10 Mar 2026
Armed Forces veterans are facing a new call-up from British industry seeking to harness their range of skills and experience.
The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), in partnership with the Forces’ charity Mission Community, has launched a career guide and recruitment pathway for ex-Services personnel coming on to the job market.
Mission Community founder and CEO James Cameron explained: “Through creating these pathways, we are helping employers to adopt veteran-friendly practices which, in turn, enable organisations to benefit from the talent and expertise of individuals they would otherwise struggle to connect with.”
The MTA pointed out that while manufacturing and advanced engineering already employed 2.6 million people in the UK, there remains an estimated 58,000 vacancies in the sector.
Additionally, salaries in these areas are on average 10% higher than other sectors within the UK economy overall.
James Selka, CEO for the MTA added that the benefits would not only be for industry’s needs but also for those of Forces veterans too.
“The MTA is committed to uplifting the Armed Forces Community in our industry and dismantling the roadblocks that can prevent veterans from flourishing in the civilian workplace despite their experience and unmatched transferable skills,” stated Selka.
“We are proud of our ongoing work with Mission Community, which has enabled our organisation to advocate for the wider Armed Forces Community responsibly and far more effectively and give us the tools to start other members of the manufacturing industry on the same path.
To see a copy of the guide, click here.
Pic: Eliezer Muller
