The construction industry is one of the most vibrant economies in the UK with an escalating demand for recruits, not only for trades but increasingly those with leadership and management skills.
Estimates are that, overall, construction needs more than 160,000 new recruits by 2023.
Every year, 20,000 men and women leave the armed forces. Many have worked in challenging environments, demanding strong collaborative and leadership skills. Their experiences often make them ideally suited to careers in construction.
We are proud to have a number of ex-service staff amongst our people – an honour which we are committed to maintaining.
Chris began his security journey as a guard, with Fortel supporting him to collect a number of training and auditing qualifications, helping his career to progress to the senior management role he holds today.
He said: “Fortel have been very supportive throughout my career.
“When I left the army there wasn’t really any support for transitioning to civilian life, nothing like it is today.
“I think the support given to me reflects really well on the company – it is a supportive company and we have a real family environment.”
Gary Benson spent nine years on active service in the army from 1983, including five tours of Northern Ireland and overseas postings.
After making the traditionally difficult transition to civilian life, he managed to secure employment in a number of security and driving jobs.
However, the financial impact of unexpectedly losing a job and the struggle to find work after that led to Gary being made homeless.
With support from the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) Fortel and Kier, Gary was provided with accommodation and opportunities to put him back on his feet in 2018.
Kam Dale, Contracts Manager, said: “The transition from life in the Armed Forces to civilian life is notably difficult and Gary is one of many to experience that.
“However, seeing him shine when given the opportunity to learn new skills and gain new experiences is proof of the value that those who have served in the Armed Forces can bring.”
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