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UK employers could reduce training costs and fill key skills gaps by tapping into the underused talent pool of military veterans, according to new research released by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) and the Forces Employment Charity (FEC).
The study highlights the potential financial and operational benefits of hiring veterans, revealing that 85% of businesses already employing them believe that increased veteran recruitment could help address long-standing workforce shortages.
A further 86% of respondents said veterans demonstrate the attributes needed to thrive in management roles.
The research was commissioned to raise awareness among employers of the value veterans bring to civilian roles and to promote Op ASCEND, a government-backed initiative launched in February 2025 to connect veterans and their families with businesses across the UK.
OVA and FEC recently partnered with HR Grapevine for an in-depth virtual event, available to stream, examining Op ASCEND and revealing how employers can fill skills and productivity gaps hiring successfully attracting and retaining military veteran talent.
Employers surveyed for the study said they are spending heavily to close skills gaps internally. Nearly half (43%) are investing more than £50,000 a year to upskill employees in communication, teamwork and problem-solving. A similar proportion (40%) said they spend comparable amounts on leadership development, with 27% spending over £100,000 annually to boost management capabilities.
OVA urges business leaders to act
Veterans, trained in high-pressure environments and accustomed to leading teams, could help employers meet those needs without incurring such high costs, says the report. Among companies that hired a veteran in the last year, 91% reported a positive business impact. Reported benefits include enhanced resilience, a stronger work ethic and improved discipline across teams.
Despite this, only 17% of businesses surveyed said they have recruited a veteran, suggesting that many are missing a proven route to reducing training overheads and improving team performance.
Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns, said: “Hiring veterans shouldn’t just be seen as businesses doing a good thing, rather it’s a good thing to do for business. The UK Armed Forces represents a unique training ground for civilian roles, yet organisations are still overlooking what this powerful, untapped talent solution can bring.”
The research also found that skills such as leadership and communication are now commanding a premium in the labour market. Two-thirds of employers said they would offer up to 30% more than the advertised salary for candidates who could demonstrate these qualities at interview.
Veteran success stories reveal workplace value
Alistair Halliday, CEO of the Forces Employment Charity, said: “Soft skills and leadership attributes can be some of the hardest to recruit for. Employers that hire veterans consistently tell us how impressed they are with how these skills translate into commercial value.”
Major employers such as Amazon and Barclays are already capitalising on it. Amazon hired 300 veterans across Europe in 2024, as part of a wider commitment to recruit 100,000 veterans globally by 2025.
Cath Possamai, Talent Acquisition Director at Amazon, said: “The skills these professionals have gained in the military seamlessly translate to a wide variety of roles within Amazon. Op ASCEND will help us to continue to identify this great talent.”
Find out more about how veterans can improve your business performance in our webinar featuring the Forces Employment Charity, Amazon and Lorne Stewart Facilities Services.
