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How Dundee is supporting veterans

Earlier this month I was warmly welcomed to Dundee to meet with a range of services and organisations involved with support and opportunities for veterans nationally and locally.

I was invited to Abertay University to hear all about the Pathways Programme - a partnership between Abertay University, SaluteMyJob and IBM, for which the Scottish Government provides funding from the Scottish Veterans Fund. Tailored specifically for the Armed Forces community, it enables Service Leavers to develop skills and gain qualifications and experience in cybersecurity.

I met with Natalie Coull, who runs the programme at Abertay, Martin Bell of Veterans Scotland, and Andrew Jackson of SaluteMyJob, which recruits and selects Service Leavers and veterans for the programme. I also met with and heard the stories of past and present students of the programme.

It was clear that the programme offers opportunities to retrain for a new career following transition to civilian life, providing access to a diverse employer network.

Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field, and it was encouraging to learn how the course is helping to meet the increasing demand for skilled professionals. As digital technologies become more prevalent in every aspect of life, the need for cybersecurity experts is accelerating. Harnessing the diverse skill sets of the veteran community is a commendable way to help respond to this and an excellent demonstration of the value that veterans can bring to the civilian workplace.

My visit also included a meeting with Bill Campbell, Lord Provost of Dundee, who also acts as the Council’s Armed Forces and Veterans Champion.  According to Scotland’s Census 2022, Dundee has a veteran population of 5,200, representing 3.0% of Scotland’s total veteran population.

We had a wide-ranging discussion about the Council’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant and the support available to the veteran community. Dundee City Council holds a Gold Award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and Bill is keen that veterans and service leavers see Dundee as a welcoming place to settle and find new careers after service. He also highlighted other services in the area that provide vital support, including Scottish Veterans Residences, SSAFA, breakfast clubs, and the Dundee Therapy Garden.

Collaboration across different sectors is key to ensuring veterans receive the support they need. Through the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership, the council works with NHS Tayside in several areas to help meet the health and mental health needs of the veteran community. I met with Susan Paterson, NHS Tayside Executive Armed Forces Champion, to hear how the health board supports and engages the veteran community – including both staff and those accessing health and care services.

Like Dundee Council, NHS Tayside holds a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award, which recognises the highest level of commitment from an organisation to employing and supporting veterans and Reservists.  NHS Tayside has reviewed its HR policies to ensure no disadvantage to veterans in recruitment and retention  and also hosts an Armed Forces group which enjoys regular meet-ups and encourages networking. When it comes to supporting veterans accessing NHS Tayside services, Susan spoke about dedicated information for ex-Forces patients, awareness-raising of issues faced by veterans among frontline staff, and signposting to dedicated support services for veterans. She also highlighted their role in delivering Veterans First Point (V1P) Tayside – a one-stop shop which aims to ensure veterans and their families in the area can access the right health and wellbeing services at the right time.

Finally, I had a very productive meeting with David Wallace, CEO of Social Security Scotland, where I gained some valuable insight into its work to listen to and meet the needs of members of the veteran community applying for the benefits that are devolved to Scotland. He also shared more information about the development of the organisation and its focus on dignity, fairness and respect when supporting applicants. It was agreed at this meeting that further engagement between Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Veterans Commissioner was desirable to ensure better outcomes Veterans.

My visit to Dundee reinforced the importance of close working between local authorities, public services, education providers, employers and support organisations to harness the skills of the veteran community and address needs effectively. By continuing to listen, learn, and collaborate, we can help make Scotland a place where all veterans feel valued, supported, and able to thrive in civilian life.