Move forward with the Ex-Forces Programme

A career programme for ex-forces personnel seeking to pursue a civilian career

Career opportunities for ex-forces personnel

Our Ex-Forces Team are committed to supporting your transition into a civilian career within the technology sector, across various industries. Choose from either a business, or more technically oriented role. Plus, get fully funded training, industry-recognised qualifications, ongoing support and commercial experience with leading global companies.

Welcoming all ranks and services

The programme is designed for ex-forces personnel by ex-forces personnel.

Whether you have just left the armed-services, police force or have some other military or industry experience, our team will support you every step of your journey. The FDM statistics reflect this dedication. Since 2014, over 750 ex-forces individuals have joined our programme and successfully transitioned into a new civilian career.

Choose from a wide variety of specialist roles, while receiving the training required to secure an entry-level position.

What you’ll do on the Ex-Forces Programme

We recognise that ex military, army and policing backgrounds equip veterans with a range of transferable skills and valuable life experience. From “soft” skills such as leadership, to technical skills and team work, our goal is to develop and transfer your existing skills into a language the corporate world recognises. Our programme is intended to help you capitalise on the qualities you already possess to prepare you for the civilian career path ahead of you.

The training

Through the FDM Virtual Academy, you will undergo 5 – 14 weeks of fully funded, instructor-led training, developed to enhance your existing skill set and provide industry-recognised certifications in technical or business disciplines. You will have the opportunity for peer networking and access to learning platforms.

Hands-on experience

After successfully completing the training, you will have the chance to gain practical experience, working on critical national infrastructure services projects for government agencies, or major transformation change programmes in financial services. We also have strong connections with top employers who recognise the diverse skills and experience that ex-forces personnel offer.

Ex-Forces Career Programmes

Which programme is right for you?

Our Ex-Forces Career Programme

is designed for ex-forces personnel from any service or rank who are looking to start a new career path.

Our Ex-Forces Advanced Programme

is targeted towards service leavers and ex-forces personnel who have demonstrable leadership and management experience.

FDM Insight Days

Not sure what career path is best for you?

Join our Ex-Forces Team at one of our upcoming insight events, in-person or virtual, and find out everything about the FDM Ex-Forces Programme.

Support and Development for the Ex-Forces Community

We go above and beyond to support ex-forces personnel and serving reservists: our Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award and Employer of The Year at the British Ex-Forces Awards reflects our active support of various military charities. We are also strong advocates of diversity, social mobility and inclusion. Our global team is made up of 95 nationalities, who speak 50 languages, across 17 countries.

Reservists
Support

Reservists
Support
FDM actively supports the Armed Forces Reservist community and allows an additional two weeks of paid leave to attend annual camp.

Wellbeing
Programme

Wellbeing
Programme
Our online wellbeing portal provides a range of helpful resources, including professional guidance and advice. Consultants also have support from Wellbeing Ambassadors throughout the FDM community.

Consultant
Experience Partners

Consultant
Experience Partners
Consultants can receive support and career guidance from Consultant Experience Partners while working
on-site with our clients.

Mentoring
Programme

Mentoring
Programme
The FDM Mentoring Programme matches consultants with mentors, based on their career aspirations and helps build long term professional development opportunities.

Online Learning and
Development Programme

Online Learning and
Development Programme
Virtual training, webinars and discussions are available to consultants, as well as e-learning platforms, including LinkedIn Learning and Intuition Know-How.

Consultant
Peer Support

Consultant
Peer Support
Our Consultant Peer Support (CPS) Programme introduces new FDMers to those already working on-site, to help them settle into their new role.

FDM
Networks

FDM
Networks
FDM Staff Networks are employee-led resource groups, designed to offer a community for discussion around specific shared characteristics and to provide support.

Employee
Recognition Awards

Employee
Recognition Awards
FDM are proud of our consultants’ achievements. We celebrate with company awards, including ‘Consultant of the Month’ and ‘Consultant of the Year’.

Consultant
Collaboration Platform

Consultant
Collaboration Platform
Our Consultant Collaboration Platform keeps FDM employees connected; they can socialise with each other and access helpful resources to aid learning and development.

Consultant
Experience Events

Consultant
Experience Events
We host monthly virtual events to help keep us all connected and make sure everyone feels involved in the FDM community.

Employee
Engagement Surveys

Employee
Engagement Surveys
Our partner, Inpulse, help us create employee surveys, which enable us to gain a better understanding of our people’s views and help us take positive action to accommodate their needs.

CEO
Communications

CEO
Communications
Our CEO, Rod Flavell, keeps us
up-to-date regularly through LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

Check out #RodsRoundUp videos to find out more.

The FDM Programme in numbers

Application Process

1

Submit Application

2

Insight Event

3

Telephone Screening

4

Assessment

5

Join the Programme

Meet our dedicated Ex-Forces Team

Stewart Sharman MBE
Stewart Sharman MBE

Global Head of Ex-Forces

Ex-British Army Colonel (Retd), Royal Corps of Signals

Connect on LinkedIn
Norman Yarwood
Norman Yarwood

Regional Manager, Scotland

Ex-British Army WO1, Royal Corps of Signals

Connect on LinkedIn
James Murray
James Murray

Head of Recruitment, Ex-forces Programme

Ex-British Army, Corps of Royal Engineers

Connect on LinkedIn
Darren Fuller
Darren Fuller

Regional Manager, South

Ex-British Army, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, The Parachute Regiment

Connect on LinkedIn
Wesley Hutton
Wesley Hutton

Deputy Manager (UK), UK EFP Bench Manager, EFP Consultant Success Manager

Ex-British Army, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, Mercian Regiment

Connect on LinkedIn
Jamie Dalton
Jamie Dalton

Ex-Forces Recruiter

Ex-British Army, The Royal Regiment of Scotland – The Black Watch

Connect on LinkedIn

What our consultants say

Sarah Gear

Sarah Gear

Solution Architect

Royal Air Force

After training in Project Management, I was offered a job with a major bank as an IT Project Manager. When my placement ended, I converted to a permanent role with the client and I am now working as a Solutions Architect in Wealth & Personal Banking, providing technical leadership, strategic direction and solution design.

Cristan Massey

Cristan Massey

Service Delivery Manager

British Army

The experience I gained in the Ex-Forces Programme has given me a wide range of knowledge of the tech industry. FDM understands the difficulty that comes with transitioning into a civilian career and assists with that massively. I am now a Service Delivery Manager for a leading tech services business, and without FDM I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Maclean Arthur

Maclean Arthur

PMO Lead

British Army

FDM recognised and built on my military background and skills, providing me with the industry standard training and qualifications required to get into the project environment. I have worked on a number of immensely interesting projects, one of them being a research programme to develop plans for a conventional satellite navigation system.

Read about industry trends

Find out more about the ex-forces and FDM community.

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