Attachment
• British Army announces plans for ‘re-balancing’
• ForceSelect launches campaign to place redundant service leavers
• Nationwide businesses large and small targeted in recruitment drive to boost economy
• “ForceSelect is a service for the services” – Andy McNab
• ForceSelect Foundation seeks to raise £½ million this year for service charities
London, March 22 2010 – Specialist consultancy ForceSelect has been launched today to provide employment opportunities, a mentoring service and a charitable Foundation to help military service leavers make a seamless transition to civilian life.
On the day that the British Army has announced that it will re-introduce Manning Control Points – a system of re-balancing capabilities for soldiers whose units are over-subscribed – the launch of ForceSelect provides a timely boost for Britain’s servicemen and women, as well as the British economy and a range of good causes.
Founded by experienced recruitment consultant Hugh Andrée, ForceSelect also counts SAS hero and bestselling author Andy McNab and former Chief of the General Staff General Sir Michael Jackson GCB CBE DSO DL amongst its directors.
With partnerships already established with international courier UPS and leading supermarket chain Sainsbury’s, as well as a wide range of medium and small businesses, ForceSelect aims to boost the British economy by placing skilled service leavers in a wide range of jobs across the country.
ForceSelect Director Andy McNab DCM MM said: “I'm proud to be part of ForceSelect, which puts the right service leaver into the right job and understands the skills that they bring to the national workforce.
“Service leavers have given a lot for their country and it is our intention to help give them something back while at the same time boosting the UK economy by employing these highly skilled and motivating people in jobs that they are qualified to do. ForceSelect not only gives service leavers real jobs and opportunities, it also provides support for the difficult transition into civilian life: it is a service for the services.”
ForceSelect founder Hugh Andrée has 13 years of experience working in recruitment after serving as an infantry officer and came up with the idea while on a Help for Heroes charity bike ride to Paris.
He recalled the uncertainties and loneliness that confronted him when he left the army 13 years ago and set up ForceSelect to provide both service leavers and working veterans with a recruitment offering and support system that is tailored to look after their specific needs, staffed entirely by former military service personnel.
Hugh Andree said: “I remember when I left the army that I had little or no support and like most, I had no idea what skills I had learnt on duty that I could transfer to the civilian workplace.
“There is a huge opportunity for British business to tap into the skills and experience that service personnel can offer and it is our objective to provide these men and women with the best and most appropriate career opportunities. These leavers are reliable, hard working and dedicated employees with a lot to offer and a huge range of skills.”
ForceSelect plans to undertake a wide range of fundraising events and contribute a proportion of the company's profits to service charities through the ForceSelect Foundation.
The Foundation, which aims to raise £500,000 this year, will be chaired by ForceSelect Non-Executive Director and former Chief of the General Staff General Sir Michael Jackson GCB CBE DSO DL and a panel of Trustees.
General Sir Michael Jackson said: “I believe ForceSelect is going to make a tremendous contribution to helping people as they leave HM Forces for civilian life. Not only will ForceSelect find service leavers new jobs and careers, but it will also give them mentoring and support - including financial and accommodation advice - to help them make the transition. I much look forward to my involvement with ForceSelect, particularly as Chairman of the Foundation.”
ForceSelect intends to support military charities, like the ABF ‘The Soldiers Charity’ through the ForceSelect Foundation and has been supported by ABF, The Soldiers’ Charity, which supports servicemen and women by offering lifetime support whether they are serving soldiers or veterans.
Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, Chief Executive of ABF The Soldiers' Charity, said: “ForceSelect is a great validation of the work we do in assisting soldiers and former soldiers; not just those who are injured but those who are moving on to the next stage in their life after an Army career.
“With young men and women leaving the Army, many having served in Iraq and Afghanistan in positions of responsibility it's essential that we harness their abilities to enable them to have a fulfilling career on civvy street.”
ForceSelect actively seeks partnerships with large and small businesses across the country and already has agreements with leading supermarket chain Sainsbury’s and courier firm UPS.
Imelda Walsh, Sainsbury's HR director, said: “We've actively recruited ex-service personnel at Sainsbury's for many years, and we're proud to continue our commitment to the Forces through our partnership with ForceSelect.
“I would encourage more companies to work with ForceSelect. Not only will they be supporting the armed forces, they will also gain access to a wealth of fantastic talent that will stand their business in good stead for many years to come."
Jim Barber, managing director, UPS UK & Ireland, added: “We are proud to be at the front line of the work that ForceSelect is doing to help service leavers and ex-service personnel get back into the workforce.
“At UPS, our values are very much aligned with those of the armed forces: discipline, loyalty, integrity, respect and commitment, as well as a tradition of promotion from within which has been in place for over a century. Many of the roles and responsibilities undertaken in the army are compatible with the high standard of service we hold ourselves to as the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain and freight services, so recruiting service leavers and working veterans into our business makes perfect sense.”
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