To celebrate Armed Forces Week 2020, we are looking back on what we have done to support the Armed Forces community and provide some much deserved recognition.

Since the launch of our Training Academy in 2018, Red7Marine has been committed to bringing skilled individuals into the industry. More recently this has meant providing employment opportunities to ex-service personnel, in addition to signing the Armed Forces Covenant. We have supported ex-forces personnel for years and we are always looking at new ways of engaging with potential candidates.

Head of QSHE and Business Improvement, Mark Smith, has been leading Red7Marine’s latest drive to bring talented candidates into the industry. This has led to Red7Marine’s involvement with Building Heroes. Building Heroes is a charity which aims to reduce unemployment amongst ex-service personnel by supporting them to find careers in the construction industry.

Mark Smith explains, “As an Army Veteran myself I understand how challenging the transition back into civilian life can be, but more importantly I understand just how many skills these individuals have to offer any industry. With an exceptional work ethic, highly transferrable qualities and a real propensity to learn new skills in challenging environments, ex-service personnel are ideal candidates for the marine construction sector.”

As a result of this, Red7Marine has been working closely with Building Heroes to find the latest wave of talent to join the business. Not only will successful candidates find a new career, they will discover a progressive and exciting opportunity which will see them be trained by a company at the forefront of the industry, providing long-term employment opportunities.

Red7Marine has also signed the Armed Forces Covenant agreement, becoming a Bronze Member. This means that we have formalised our commitment to being an Armed Forces Friendly Employer. Whether staff members have a partner in the armed forces, have a Regular Reserve Force commitment, or are serving in the Armed Forces Reserves, Red7Marine will provide the support and flexibility for them to enjoy a fulfilling career. Having become a Bronze Member, we will now be working to achieve a Silver Armed Forces Covenant Membership.

Red7Marine works to enrich the careers of ex-servicemen and young people across the country and values community engagement immensely. This is why we have partnered with Engineering for Industry, previously Energising Harwich, offering students pre-employment support and training through its consortium with Colchester Institute. Red7Marine will be implementing a foundation scheme to reduce and ultimately solve the skills shortage currently being faced in the marine industry. Red7Marine supports any pathway which looks to enrich the careers of those who need a helping hand.

To find out more about how you can support Armed Forces Week, please click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/armed-forces-week