Our most-clicked Forces-friendly employers
The ten Gold-award employers that drew the most traffic in the Top Employers section of the Quest website, and the routes and support each offers Service leavers.
Leaving the Armed Forces means making some big decisions about what comes next. You’ll have skills and experience to offer, but working out where they fit in the civilian world can take a little help. Finding an employer that understands your background is a good place to start.
For this round-up, we’ve chosen the ten companies that generated the most traffic in the Top Employers section of the Quest website. They cover everything from defence and engineering to technology, energy, logistics and catering, and all have achieved Gold status under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Here’s a look at what they do, what pathways they offer for people from the Forces and the support that could help you make your next move.
BAE Systems
If you’d like to stay close to defence after leaving the Forces, BAE Systems is worth exploring. The company works across aerospace, security and defence technology, covering air, land, maritime and cyber. It employs more than 49,000 people in the UK, with expertise ranging from systems engineering to combat technologies. Depending on your service background, some of that work may already feel familiar.
Its Veterans Talent Pool helps you work out where you could fit. Everyone who joins the pool is offered a conversation about their skills, experience and ambitions, followed by guidance on suitable parts of the business. That’s a useful starting point when you’re looking at a large organisation with lots of different functions. BAE Systems also launched an initiative in 2024 to open up more early-career opportunities for junior service leavers.
See the BAE Systems profile on Quest
Babcock
Babcock is another familiar name for many people leaving the military. Its international defence business draws on decades of engineering and technology experience, supporting complex equipment and systems across land, nuclear, marine and aviation. If you’ve built up technical or operational experience during your service, there could be plenty to investigate. More than 12,400 veteran applications in 2024 show the level of interest from the ex-Forces community.
Babcock asks about military service during applications and when people join, helping it understand its veteran workforce and decide where to invest in support. Once inside the business, veterans are encouraged to get involved in peer networks and employee groups. These offer a chance to meet colleagues with similar backgrounds, share experiences and help shape the support available to others making the same move.
See the Babcock profile on Quest
BT Group
Being able to think on your feet, learn quickly and keep going under pressure counts for a lot at BT Group. More than 4,000 veterans work across BT and Openreach, and hundreds of jobs are advertised each year through the Career Transition Partnership. If you’re interested in joining them, the Transition Force programme offers mentoring and workshops covering CVs, interviews and careers within the two businesses. It has been supporting veterans since 2010.
There’s also an Armed Forces network with more than 2,000 members, including veterans, reservists and families. It gives new starters people to turn to and offers support as their careers develop. BT also provides mental health training and helps military spouses relocating when partners deploy. Mentoring, work experience and encouragement to take part in senior leadership development give veterans ways to keep building on their military experience.
See the BT Group profile on Quest
Amey
You probably come across Amey’s work more often than you realise. The company helps look after highways, railways, public buildings and military housing, with more than 15,000 employees working across defence, transport, justice, education and utilities. Its Armed Forces Network brings together colleagues with military connections, offers support and helps make sure their experiences are heard when company policies are developed.
For anyone considering a role, Amey’s Service to Success Programme offers practical help with the move. Veterans who meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview, and support includes CV advice and interview preparation. A tool on Amey’s website matches military skills to civilian roles, including logistics, engineering, project management and health and safety. New starters receive an induction that takes their background and needs into account. Many are also paired with Armed Forces Network mentors who can help them find their feet.
GXO Logistics
If you enjoy organising people, solving problems and keeping things moving, logistics could be an interesting direction. GXO’s UK workforce includes more than 400 veterans among around 40,000 employees. The company asks applicants about military service early on, helping it identify people who may benefit from support as they move into civilian work.
To get a feel for the business, service leavers can attend monthly online introductions run with the Career Transition Partnership. These include contributions from GXO employees who have served themselves. There’s also help with CVs, practice interviews and employability coaching, plus work experience to give you a closer look at the industry. Veteran hires rose from 90 in 2022 to 191 in 2024. Once employed, people with Armed Forces connections can access more than 46,000 free courses, alongside training in communication, civilian leadership and adapting to a new working environment.
See the GXO Logistics profile on Quest
FDM Group
A move into business or technology might mean learning something new, and that’s where FDM Group’s approach comes in. The global consultancy has more than 30 years’ experience and over 1,600 UK employees. Its Ex-Forces Programme combines training, qualifications and commercial experience to help veterans put their military strengths to work. FDM reports having supported 861 veterans through the programme, with another 52 employed in internal roles.
Veterans who meet the basic criteria are guaranteed an interview or assessment. Successful candidates then train in the FDM Skills Lab, where veterans lead the learning and qualifications can include Scrum Master, ITIL and PRINCE2. You receive a stipend during training and don’t pay for the upskilling. When you move on to client assignments, mentoring and coaching continue, giving you people to turn to as you gain experience and get used to your new career.
See the FDM Group profile on Quest
Centrica
There’s a lot happening in energy, and Centrica offers a chance to be part of it. Its work covers generation, storage, distribution, retail and repair, with around 19,000 employees in the UK. The company estimates that more than 500 are veterans. Support also reaches reservists and military families through its Pathways programme and Forces Network.
Centrica asks about military connections during recruitment and throughout employment, using what it learns to improve support and understand how veterans get on in the business. Its specialist Pathways team also works directly with the Armed Forces community. If you’re bringing leadership experience from service, the Forces and Athletes Leadership Placement scheme could be of interest. This annual programme helps veterans in the middle of their careers move into leadership and management roles, combining commercial learning with support from peers. It offers a way to build on experience you already have while getting to grips with a different industry.
See the Centrica profile on Quest
Serco
If public service is something you’d like to keep at the centre of your working life, take a look at Serco. Its activities include defence, health, transport, justice, citizen services, leisure, community services and immigration. Around 2,350 veterans work for the company in the UK, making up nearly 8% of a workforce of more than 30,000. There are also over 125 reservists.
Serco asks about military backgrounds during applications and takes account of service experience when reviewing CVs and recruiting. You can meet the company at Armed Forces employment events, including those run by the Career Transition Partnership. After joining, support includes a dedicated induction and access to the Serco Veterans Network. Mentoring, coaching, leadership development and specialist training help veterans settle into civilian roles and develop their careers. For those interested in its defence work, a dedicated careers platform provides a starting point for applications.
See the Serco profile on Quest
Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty’s work is about building and maintaining the infrastructure people rely on, from transport to energy and defence. The company has more than 115 years of experience and employs around 350 veterans across its UK operations. It checks how well its Armed Forces community stays with the business after one, three and five years, reporting veteran retention at least equal to the wider workforce.
There are several ways to explore opportunities, including careers fairs, insight days and work placements. Partnerships with organisations such as Project RECCE, Operation Prosper and the Forces Employment Charity also provide courses and routes into employment. Some service leavers have turned placements into permanent jobs. Once you join, the Military Talent Pathway offers structured support, including virtual welcome sessions covering the company and its Armed Forces Covenant commitments. Eligible recent service leavers can also access a six-month development programme.
See the Balfour Beatty profile on Quest
Compass Group
Compass Group UK & Ireland could be worth a look if you’re interested in catering, hospitality or the services that keep workplaces running. Its work includes facilities management, cleaning, vending and guest services, with 55,000 employees across six UK sectors. Support covers veterans, reservists and military families, and new starter forms capture military connections so teams can offer relevant help from the beginning.
You’ll find Compass vacancies through organisations and platforms including Forces Families Jobs and the Career Transition Partnership. Webinars, a Resettlement Pack and work experience placements can help you explore the options. Conversations with recruiters also give you a chance to work out which roles might suit you. Veteran enquiries and applications are directed through its internal Social Partner Hub to recruiters who understand military CVs and career paths. There’s practical help with CVs and transition too, so you can explain what you bring and prepare for civilian employment.
See the Compass Group profile on Quest
See every Gold-award employer
Browse the full Top Employers list on the Quest website, with details of each employer’s veteran programmes and the support they offer Service leavers.
This article first appeared in the November 2026 issue of Quest magazine.
- Featured Advertisers -
