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BuildForce
BuildForce is a nationwide construction industry programme, dedicated to supporting the ex-Armed Forces community in upskilling and transitioning into long-term professional careers in the construction industry and wider built environment. As the original pioneer of ex-military support in construction, BuildForce has been raising the profile of service leavers, veterans, reservists and spouses within this sector. It is the formal military partner of many of industry’s contractors, consultants and public sector projects in industry.

History
BuildForce was formed in January 2011 by founding companies Lendlease, Wilson James, Ernst & Young Carillion and Morgan Sindall, led by Angela Forbes, Gary Sullivan OBE, Malcolm Bairstow, Chris James and Andrew Parker.

BuildForce were formally constituted as a community interest company in 2018, with the original founders forming the company directors.

Activities
BuildForce are a construction industry programme, who support our service leaver and veteran community, from the Royal Air Force, British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines, transition into trade and professional careers within industry.

BuildForce is nationwide and offers a compliment of 5* services focused on industry & employment, education, mental health & suicide prevention, sports & wellbeing and after-care. Industry employer’s range across construction, homebuilding, infrastructure, logistics, utilities, security, engineering and facilities management.

In 2021, BuildForce were awarded Gold from the Armed Forces Covenant, Employer Recognition Scheme. BuildForce work in partnership with The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They also work in partnership with the Invictus Games and are the official military partner of the HS2 project.

The activities within the BuildForce programme include:

2. Education Programme
BuildForce commissioned pre-employment learning interventions in 2020, based on employer and veteran research. This is a first for industry and the military community. These online and certified (by University College of Estate Management – UCEM) learning modules will provide ex-military with knowledge that will enable them to take the first step towards becoming site and employment ready, i.e. gain an understanding of the construction industry as defined by employers. For example: how a construction project and a construction site operate, roles and career pathways, specific knowledge/understanding required by employers, overcoming barriers faced by ex-military. The bespoke modules were developed through qualitative and quantitative research using surveys, along with veteran and employer focus groups. This research identified the particular issues/challenges faced by ex-military and employers and created content designed to resolve these issues.

The outcomes of these transferable pre-employment learning modules are:


 * increased knowledge as to the understanding and specific attributes that employers are seeking from ex-military, and the challenges that ex-military face upon seeking to access careers in industry;
 * increased awareness of ex-military as to the opportunities that construction offers them;
 * greater numbers of ex-military gaining an increased, certified and employer-led awareness and understanding of the construction industry and the opportunities that it offers for them;
 * a reduction in ex-military falling at a potential hurdle that other ex-military have experienced (through learning being based on the guidance of other ex-military personnel);
 * more ex-military being able to evidence to employers their interest and commitment to finding a career in industry through having undertaken the module (and gaining certification through a multiple-choice test at the end of the learning);
 * more ex-military gaining knowledge of careers in the professions referenced, and increasing their attractiveness to employers;
 * and greater numbers of ex-military accessing careers in construction, therefore contributing to a reduction in skills shortages.

3. Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Programme
The mental health and suicide prevention programme is available to both service leavers and veterans, and all those in industry. It can provide support to family members and all those affected by their mental health and by suicide.

Part of the induction is attendance at a Transition Wellbeing Workshops. The interactive seminar discusses the stress associated with transitioning from the Armed Forces to life in civvy street. It explores the relationship between stress and mental health, enabling participants to recognise the signs/symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression and how this can affect their safety on site and at home. The session also provides evidence-based information and practical approaches for addressing these often-difficult life issues, focusing on the following key areas:


 * raise awareness of stress and its relationship with mental health;
 * enhance knowledge of how to prevent and alleviate stress;
 * raise awareness of the potential impact of stress and mental health issues in the workplace;
 * reduce stigma and address prejudice re mental health issues;
 * enhance participants emotional wellbeing and resilience.