Martyn's Story

How Martyn's military knowledge is serving him as an Operations Manager at Serco
Card text

After 24 years in the Royal Navy, Martyn faced a significant transition when he left the military.

Having joined at 17, his career spanned roles from Sonar Operator to Petty Officer Seaman Specialist, with responsibilities including boat handling, replenishment at sea, and tactical communications.
“I absolutely loved my time in the Navy. I went all over the world,” Martyn shares. His final post was as King’s Harbour Master (KHM) in Devonport, where he coordinated ship movements. When the military civilianised the role, Martyn stepped into it as an Assistant Movements Officer for the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

“There was no downtime between those two phases of my career,” he recalls. “I left the Navy on a Thursday and came back as a civilian on Friday, doing the same job.
Card text
In 2023, Martyn joined Serco as an Operations Controller, coordinating vessel logistics — a role closely tied to his naval experience. He was quickly promoted to Operations Coordinator, overseeing the ops room. “It’s funny,” he says. “In the Navy, I’d call Serco to request vessels. Now, I’m on the other side, answering those calls.”

Martyn’s knowledge of Devonport dockyard and naval operations proved invaluable. “I already knew half the job because I’d worked alongside Serco during my naval career,” he explains. His ability to understand both military and civilian perspectives has been a key asset. “When the MOD asks for something that seems out of the ordinary, I can explain why — because I’ve been there.”
Card text

"[In the military,] you learn to juggle multiple tasks and think on your feet. That's helped me deal with the fast-pace and problem-solving this role demands. At Serco, my manager has been gret in mentoring me to help bridge any gaps, and I'm learning as I go."

Martyn
Operations Manager, HMNB Devonport
Card text

While many skills transferred smoothly, some areas required adjustment. “HR and finance were new to me,” Martyn shares. “In the Navy, you have specialists for that. But at Serco, my manager has been great in mentoring me to help bridge any gaps, and I’m learning as I go.”

Martyn also credits the Navy for instilling vital soft skills. “You learn to juggle multiple tasks and think on your feet. That’s helped me deal with the fast pace and problem-solving this role demands.
Alongside his operational responsibilities, Martyn also supports apprentices across the team. Each year, they bring in deck and engineering apprentices on structured programmes lasting between two and four years.

As Operations Manager, he oversees their development, staying closely involved while day-to-day guidance is provided by dedicated mentors. “I make sure I’m having regular conversations with them, just to check they’re okay and support them if they need anything,” he says. For Martyn, it’s a rewarding part of the role — seeing individuals grow in confidence and develop into capable members of the team.
Card text
Mentoring has played a key role in Martyn’s journey at Serco. From early guidance in the team to being matched with a senior mentor, he’s had consistent support as he’s progressed. “I’ve had a lot of guidance from a coaching and mentoring point of view,” he says. That support has helped him build confidence in new areas of his role, including contracts and finance. “I’ve always had someone to turn to… someone’s always had my back,” he adds — something he continues to rely on as he steps into more senior responsibilities.

For other veterans considering civilian careers, Martyn has practical advice. “Your military experience is more valuable than you think. The key is learning how to translate it into civilian terms,” he says. He also encourages veterans to network and explore industries that align with their expertise.

At Serco, veterans like Martyn thrive in an environment that values their skills. “There are lots of ex-military personnel here, and it creates a great sense of community,” he notes. “Serco has been brilliant. They’ve supported my transition and growth every step of the way.”

With his sights set on further progression, Martyn reflects on his journey. “It’s been rewarding to use my Navy experience in a new way. I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I’m excited for what’s next.”

At Serco, we're proud to support service leavers into secure and meaningful civilian careers. In fact, we were one of the first companies to publicly commit to the Armed Forces Covenant, launched by the Armed Forces Minister in 2013. With a defence workforce made up of 39% veterans, this is a great place to find support and community when you resettle.

Join Serco in Defence.

Explore jobs