CASE STUDY

The Carillion Recovery Workplace Attachment

The BeginningCarillion has a long history of engaging with Her Majesty's Armed Forces and recruiting former service personnel and veterans at all levels. Carillion was one of the original signatories of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Armed Forces Covenant established in October 2013. The company is at the forefront or renewing and strengthening this commitment.

As a leading UK company Carillion has a responsibility to recognise the contribution of all who have served. Through engagement in long-term contracts supporting Ministry of Defence (MoD) infrastructure, Carillion has long been open to providing work placement provision for individuals undergoing transition and seeking to embark on civilian careers.

Three years ago, Stephen Ainscough, Project Development Manager Carillion Community Services took on the task of formalising what had been an ad hoc process for dealing with requests for work placements from the Personnel Recovery Unit (PRU). Personnel Recovery Units are military units for the command and care of wounded, injured and sick personnel to return to duty or transition to civilian life. Carillion has now established their national Recovery Work Attachment (RWA) programme across its business with Stephen Ainscough in the role of National Manager.

The aim of the programme is to offer work placement opportunities to individuals who are seeking to embark on civilian careers. The programme enables them to sample a range of career options and to gain experience within Carillion's different businesses primarily across Services and Construction. Individuals get to ‘try out' their different areas of interest.

Carillion has partnered with the MoD's Recovery Career Services to ensure these placement opportunities are available to wounded, injured or sick service personnel. Placements last from a day to several months. There are examples of individuals who have gone on to take up full- time roles in the company. There are 11 Personnel Recovery Units throughout the UK.

The ProcessThe RWA programme follows the process outlined below:

STEP 1 Personnel Recovery Units forwards CV to Carillion point of contact

STEP 2 The individual’s skills and requirements are matched with work placement opportunities

STEP 3 One-to-one discussion with individuals to discuss work placement

STEP 4 Individuals introduced to relevant Business Units with Carillion to start placement

STEP 5 CV and interview help, mentoring and coaching provided for individuals to assist them with applying for a job within Carillion or elsewhere

Transition

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CASE STUDY

“The individual satisfaction you gain from placing someone and seeing them develop is immense”

Stephen Ainscough - Project Development Manager,

Carillion Community Services

Carillion has identified a network of employees across the UK who volunteer to act as points of contact to work with the local Personnel Recovery Unit. These volunteers are responsible for using their networks within the organisation to identify work placement opportunities.

There is no set duration for a placement but individuals have the opportunity to have more than one placement and to be placed in various functions and roles within Carillion so that they can gain a wider range of experience. Although Carillion does not guarantee employment at the end of the placements, individuals have the opportunity to apply for any available vacancies within the organisation.

As well as placements, the RWA programme offers a range of proactive workshops including developing CVs; interview practice and experiences; mentoring and coaching. Carillion's focus is on enabling and empowering individuals to become employable both within Carillion and elsewhere.

Outcome and BenefitsSince 2014, the RWA programme has placed 60 individuals into placement opportunities within Carillion. Of these, 16 have led to employment Carillion in Supply Chain which has a key role in supporting the 2020 Sustainability Strategy. The RWA programme along with a number of other military engagement programmes at Carillion, helps support this Strategy.

Engaging in helping the armed forces helps employee morale within the organisation as well giving Carillion access to a diverse and highly skilled workforce.

Above and beyond these benefits, Carillion as a company believes that it is the right thing to do. As Stephen Ainscough says: “If we can help service personnel in their transition by guiding them and mentoring them to choose the career path that is right for them, then that is the most important thing. The individual satisfaction you gain from placing someone and seeing them develop is also immense.”

The benefits of the RWA programme are tangible. Sally Varley (Former RAF Air Traffic Controller and Airport Manager) undertook work placements with Carillion and since September 2015 has been Senior Business Development Manager, Carillion Defence and Security. She also serves as Wing Commander Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF) and is the Defence business Reservist champion in Carillion.

Sally is a Carillion Ambassador for how effective the RWA programme is in providing genuine opportunities. Sally values the experience of working in a civilian environment with support that allowed her to recognise the career path she wanted to follow and to develop networks within the organisation.

Moving ForwardCarillion currently employs over 500 veterans. The RWA programme is one of several military engagement programmes within the company. Carillion offers placements via the BuildForce, Armed Force Employment Pathway and attachments for serving Royal Engineers to gain technical experience.

The RWA programme has grown from strength-to-strength over the past three years and has attracted considerable support throughout the organisation. Working with the Career Transition Partnership and the local Personnel Recovery Units, there are plans to further promote the programme with a view to increasing the number of future placements.

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