Your next mission starts here

Careers for Military Leavers

Transfer your skills and experience to a rewarding second career with Serco.

Your military career has equipped you with skills that employers value. Leadership, resilience, teamwork, problem solving and the ability to perform under pressure are all strengths that can make a real difference in civilian life.

At Serco, we understand the transition from military to civilian employment because many of our colleagues have already made it themselves. Around 30% of our global defence workforce are veterans, and across our wider business you'll find former members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines building rewarding second careers.

Whether you want to continue supporting defence or explore a completely new direction, you'll find opportunities where your experience is recognised, valued and rewarded.

Why choose Serco?

Discover a place where your experience counts. 

For over 60 years, we've proudly worked alongside the UK Armed Forces, delivering critical defence support services. That partnership has given us a genuine understanding of military life and the unique skills service leavers bring to civilian organisations.

We're proud to have been ranked No.1 in the Great British Employers of Veterans 2026, recognising our commitment to creating meaningful careers for veterans, reservists and military families.

A community that understands

You'll join thousands of colleagues with military backgrounds who understand the transition into civilian employment and are ready to support you throughout your career.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

UK Armed Forces leavers and veterans who meet the minimum criteria for one of our vacancies are guaranteed an interview, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and experience.

Careers across the UK and beyond

Whether you're interested in defence, justice, healthcare, transport, facilities management or citizen services, you'll find opportunities to continue making an impact in communities across the UK and around the globe.

Build your future

From technical qualifications and leadership development to mentoring and on-the-job learning, we'll support your long-term career growth.

Hear from our veterans

Transitioning into civilian employment can feel like a big step, but you won't be taking it alone. Hear from colleagues who have successfully moved from military service into rewarding careers at Serco and discover how their skills have continued to make a difference.

Craig Barton

Install At Source Lead
and British Army Veteran

Ros Kearney

Supplier Contracts Analyst and British Army Veteran

Martyn Sims

Operations Manager and Royal Navy Veteran

Your strengths are highly valued here

Military experience prepares you for much more than operational roles. Many of the qualities developed during service are exactly what we're looking for across our business. Examples of these include:

Leadership and decision making

Working under pressure

Communication and teamwork

Problem solving

Planning and organisation

Adaptability

Safety and risk management

Technical expertise

Resilience

Delivering to a high standard

Transfer your skills and experience

There's a wide range of roles you could easily transfer your skills and experience to at Serco.

Click the skills below to see just a few examples of the kinds of roles we offer you could be well-suited to.

Operations Manager, Contract Manager, Team Leader

Asset Manager, Engineering Technician

Supply Chain, Transport Manager

Customer Service, Control Centre, Communications & Marketing

Learning & Development, Defence Trainer

Project Manager, Project Coordinator, Management

HGV Technician, Fleet Engineer

Aircraft Engineer, Aviation Support

Naval Base Operations, Marine Services

Security Officer, Prison Officer, Detention Custody Officer

Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS)

We're proud to partner with the UK Ministry of Defence through the Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS), helping recruit the next generation of service personnel.

If you're interested in continuing to support UK Defence after leaving the Armed Forces, explore opportunities with the AFRS.

Our commitment to the Armed Forces community

Supporting the Armed Forces community has been part of who we are for decades. For more than 60 years, we've worked alongside the UK Armed Forces, giving us a genuine understanding of the skills, experiences and challenges faced by those transitioning into civilian careers.

We were one of the first organisations to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in 2013, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring members of the Armed Forces community are treated fairly and have access to meaningful career opportunities.

To help make the transition into civilian employment as smooth as possible, we work closely with organisations that support service leavers throughout their journey, including the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), Forces Transition Group (FTG), Walking with the Wounded, and the White Ensign Association.

We're proud that our commitment has been recognised through a number of industry awards, partnerships and accreditations that demonstrate our ongoing support for veterans, reservists and military families.

“There are lots of ex-military personnel here, and it creates a great sense of community. Serco has been brilliant. They’ve supported my transition and growth every step of the way.”

Martyn
Operations Coordinator, HMNB Devonport

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. We welcome applications from service leavers before their official leaving date and encourage you to begin planning your transition early.

We recruit people from all branches of the UK Armed Forces and recognise that military experience develops a wide range of transferable skills that are valuable across many different careers.

Absolutely. Every role includes an induction, and many offer ongoing technical training, professional development and leadership opportunities.

Not at all. While many veterans choose to continue supporting defence, you'll also find careers across justice, healthcare, transport, facilities management, citizen services and corporate functions.

Many other veterans working at Serco join us looking to try something completely different for their second career!

If you're a UK Armed Forces leaver or veteran and meet the minimum criteria for one of our vacancies, you'll be guaranteed an interview if you opt into our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

“In the military, failure isn’t an option. That mindset remains a huge asset in the corporate world, where projects often demand a high level of focus, teamwork, and resilience.” 

Stuart
Project Manager, Digital

Ready for your next mission?

Your military service has prepared you for more than you might think. Whatever path you're looking to take next, we're here to help you build a rewarding civilian career where your skills continue to make a difference.

Need support with your application or want to discuss how your military experience translates? Contact our Pathways team on pathways@serco.com.