Helping heroes find role in Civvy Street (From Daily Echo)

Helping heroes find role in Civvy Street

5:20pm Thursday 26th July 2012 in Business By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter

Southampton businesses are being urged to sign up to a scheme to help ex-soldiers and other members of the Armed Forces find work.

Major national employers including John Lewis, Centrica, O2 and Greggs have already joined the Veterans Interview Programme.

Now city MP John Denham has written to local firms of all sizes encouraging them to get involved.

The project, launched by the Labour Party partly in response to the Government’s announcement it is cutting 20,000 Army posts, sees companies voluntarily guarantee an interview for former members of the Armed Forces now looking for work.

Mr Denham, who represents Southampton Itchen , said many veterans have a wide range of experiences and skills arising from their service that would make them useful to civilian employers.

He said: “Initiatives such as this underline our country’s respect and goodwill towards the service community.

“It is wrong that someone who has served in Afghanistan is expected to join the back of the queue at the local job centre.

This is not about special treatment but overcoming barriers to provide a level playing field for service people.

“It is all of our duty to help provide a smooth transition from military to civilian life.”