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Empowering veterans to thrive in business

Last month I had the honour of attending the Scottish Forces in Business Awards – a highlight in the calendar year for the veteran community.

The awards recognise the remarkable talent and value that veterans and reservists bring to the business community, as well as celebrating the employers who go the extra mile to recruit and support those from a Service background.

With hundreds of veterans, reservists and business leaders coming together in one room, the event was a powerful reminder of how military skills and values translate so effectively into business success – and of what is possible when veterans are given the opportunity to thrive.

Leadership, resilience, teamwork and the ability to perform under pressure make veterans outstanding employees. Those same qualities also equip many to build and lead successful businesses of their own, drawing on strategic thinking, discipline and a strong sense of purpose. Their contribution reaches beyond the organisations they work for, driving impact across the wider economy and in the sectors and communities they serve.

Despite this significant potential, we know that for some veterans entering the workforce, identifying the right opportunities, presenting their skills confidently and settling into civilian ways of working can be challenging.

That is why events like the Forces in Business Awards are so important. They not only celebrate success, but also reinforce confidence within the Armed Forces community, raise awareness among employers of the value veterans bring, and encourage organisations to consider how their recruitment processes and development opportunities can be made more accessible and inclusive for those transitioning from military service.

Over the years, the SVC office has made a number of recommendations aimed at improving employment outcomes for veterans through work that is meaningful and reflective of their true potential. These include ensuring that the Scottish Government and other public bodies promote advice clearly and proactively, and that agencies such as Skills Development Scotland continue to work closely with the MOD and the Careers Transition Partnership to deliver additional ‘wrap-around’ packages for Early Service Leavers and other veterans who may face significant challenges in securing employment.

Commissioners have also highlighted the importance of strengthening connections with the business community, broadening engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises both as employers and as mentors to veterans seeking to establish their own businesses. We have further recommended exploring the role of social enterprise as a model for community development and employment for veterans, engaging with organisations including Social Enterprise Scotland (SES) to identify how the sector can better support the veteran community.

A key success has been the work to better align existing military and civilian skills and qualifications. The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework’s Military Skills Discovery Tool enables veterans to compare their military qualifications with civilian equivalents, strengthening their ability to compete for roles as they settle in Scotland. The tool continues to be promoted and demonstrated at employability events across the country.

Progress against these recommendations is encouraging. Collaboration between government, public bodies and the business community is strengthening, awareness is growing, and practical support is improving. The SVC office will continue to monitor developments closely to ensure momentum is maintained and that veterans are able to access opportunities that reflect their skills, experience and ambition.

The Scottish Forces in Business Awards showcased what can be achieved when that support is in place. The stories shared on the night were not only examples of success but sources of inspiration, demonstrating the incredible talent, skill and determination that veterans bring to the business community every day.

There is a responsibility to build on that momentum, ensuring that talent is recognised, barriers are reduced and every veteran has a fair opportunity to fulfil their potential. When this is achieved, the benefits are far-reaching – empowering veterans, enabling businesses to thrive and strengthening Scotland’s economy.