Efforts to make Civil Service recruitment more accessible to veterans and military families continue to grow, with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) among the departments working closely with the Going Forward into Employment (GFIE) team to source roles through targeted outreach.
The initiative aims to match candidates from veteran and military spouse or partner communities with suitable roles across government, removing barriers that might otherwise prevent them from applying.
Matching skills to roles
The Civil Service employs more than 500,000 people across multiple departments and locations. GFIE works with recruitment teams to identify what skills are needed for specific roles and whether training will be provided, ensuring vacancies are communicated clearly and without unnecessary jargon.
By focusing on aligning skills with available opportunities, the GFIE team looks to ensure better outcomes for both candidates and hiring departments.
Targeted outreach and engagement
One recent example involved HMRC recruiting for criminal investigation officer roles. GFIE supported the department by promoting the vacancies to veteran and military spouse communities, recognising the transferable skills many candidates bring from service life.
The team engages through in-person job fairs, online drop-in sessions and outreach events, giving prospective applicants an insight into working in the Civil Service and what to expect from the application process.
HMRC staff have also joined GFIE events, including a virtual session hosted with Career Transition Partnership and a veterans’ engagement day at Silverstone, to speak directly with potential applicants.
Peer support driving applications
Peer networks have become an important part of the process. As more people are recruited through GFIE pathways, they are increasingly involved in outreach, offering first-hand accounts of their experiences and helping to build confidence among those who may not see the Civil Service as an obvious next step.
For some, hearing from someone who has already made the transition is the deciding factor in submitting an application. The approach reflects a growing emphasis on collaboration and targeted support to make recruitment into government roles more inclusive.
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