Ex-Forces

Testimonials 

I left the Armed Forces just over 5 years ago, saw an advert for an Engineer Surveyor which seemed like an ideal opportunity. With my REME career behind me I knew I would be equipped with the technical knowledge to make me a success. Bureau Veritas’ fundamental ethos of ensuring the delivery of safety being behind everything that they do was (and remains) something that is really appealing to me, while I was looking for employment. Similarly I could see quite a few of my contacts had moved on from the forces into similar roles; which was also something that drew me to the company. I am currently a Trainer and the Deputy Area Manager, I enjoy the responsibility that comes with these roles and value the experience that I have gained. As an aside I am currently in the process of training in a second discipline (Lift). The role requires an amount of travelling and the visiting of a wide range of client sites and indeed face to face liaison with ground level operators. I find this both interesting and enjoyable, as I get to see a lot of different engineering environments both the very best and some less than, one of my drivers, as no day is ever the same!

Transitioning from the military into a civilian job with Bureau Veritas was seamless, my interviewer was ex REME which put me at ease immediately as I knew he’d been where I am now and the amount of ex-military I encountered through-out training was welcome sight, be it new starters in the same boat as me or the trainers themselves allowed me to concentrate on the training in hand. Generous salary, company car, fantastic pension and a host of benefits to choose from each year…saying yes to the job offer was a no brainer, a fresh start into a secure career recommended by a fellow ex REME doing the same job.

After 25 years in the REME I was nervous about transitioning to the civilian sector, however it has been much easier than I expected thanks to BV. Coming into BVs Engineering Technical Services Team (ETS) was as familiar as taking on a new posting, there was an excellent support network in place (I was working with two Ex-REME ASMs and one Ex RE WO, even my new manager had two sons serving in the REME). The one real area I was apprehensive about was regarding the commercial side, however BV are aware of our background and already had a plan in place to develop me in that area, within a few months I was completely at home in my new civilian environment.

Just like the REME, Bureau Veritas supports development and career progression, 12 months after starting as an Engineering Consultant I was promoted to ETS Team Leader and I am now being developed for my next role. BV has proven to not only have given me my first job as a civilian, it has given me my next career, and it one I can see myself doing quite happily until I retire, again!

The Bureau Veritas technical interview process was definitely aided by my REME background as we get exposed to such a wide variety of equipment’s we understand how things work. During my training I found out that a large amount of my team were ex REME, an amount which has since largely increased. Being trained for the role by ex REME made the whole process easier and now, as a trainer, I have since trained several ex Forces trainees and their experience, confidence and ability to learn new equipment’s has shone through. The role is suited to ex REME as it gives us chance to demonstrate skills we have learnt some of those being, professionalism, ability to get the job done with minimal assistance often by working on our own, reliability and being keen to progress. Bureau Veritas offer a competitive salary, company car, pension scheme and a whole range of additional benefits.

Just like the REME, Bureau Veritas supports development and career progression, 12 months after starting as an Engineering Consultant I was promoted to ETS Team Leader and I am now being developed for my next role. BV has proven to not only have given me my first job as a civilian, it has given me my next career, and it one I can see myself doing quite happily until I retire, again!