Armed forces employment, education and skills

We want to help our armed forces community to achieve their ambitions and get the support they need. You can find out about education, training, and employment options and support that can help you get started.

Education

British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS)

The BFRS helps the ex-armed forces with their move into civilian life. It's open to service leavers, reserve forces, veterans and civilian Ministry of Defence (MoD) employees. It's also open to their partners and families.

You can find out more about the courses they offer on the BFRS website or by calling (0116) 254 5477.

Career Transitions Partnership (CTP)

CTP offer value for money courses for service leavers which are MoD approved. Find out about CTP courses.  

LifeWorks

LifeWorks is a fully funded five-day course. It's provided by the Royal British Legion Industries. It equips ex-armed forces personnel with the tools to get into and stay in a job that's right for them.

Find out more about LifeWorks or call 0800 319 6844.

Regular Forces Employment Agency (RFEA)

The RFEA is an employment charity. They help armed forces service leavers to find and stay in an job for the rest of their working lives.

Find out more about RFEA.

The Warrior Programme

The Warrior Programme is a three day training programme. It gives you practical, effective tools and ways to improve performance and overcome any issues you may have. It also includes 12 months support and signposting.

They also run residential programmes for veterans and their adult family members.

Find out more about the Warrior Programme or call 0560 204 3180.

UCAS - attending university

UCAS offers advice when looking to apply for higher education. This includes support for service children, veterans and service leavers. Find out more about UCAS.

University support - Naval Families Federation (NFF)

The NFF aims to support more young people from serving families into higher education. Find out about the NFF.

Adult Skills and Community Learning

Courses and classes for people aged 19 and over who want to improve their wellbeing, employability and skills or gain qualifications.

With options for a range of levels and abilities, we can help you to set goals based on what you’d like to achieve. You can ease back into learning with a taster class and go right through to gaining a full qualification.

Find out more about Adult Skills and Community Learning.

Bereavement Scholarship Scheme

The Bereavement Scholarship Scheme is for the children of service personnel whose death has been attributed to service since 1990. The scheme can help with costs of further education for eligible applicants.  

MOD Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme

Supports higher level learning of a nationally recognised qualification at Level 3 or above for serving personnel, service leavers and those that have recently left Service.  Find out more about MOD Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme

British Forces Resettlement Services 

Promotes courses that can enhance the career development of those leaving or who have left the armed forces.  Call 02476 939931 or visit British Forces Resettlement Services. 

Forces Employment Charity

Can support service leavers, veterans and their families, and reservists with training opportunities that can enhance their civilian employment journey.  Call 0121 262 3058 or visit Forces Employment Charity.

Career Transitions Partnership (CTP)

Offer value for money courses, that are MOD approved, for service leavers.  Visit Career Transitions Partnership for more details.  

Service Pupil Premium

State schools, academies and free schools can receive additional funding to provide support (mainly pastoral).  This is for service children who may experience specific challenges due to being part of the armed forces community. You can find out more about Service Pupil Premium.  

Children’s Education Advisory Service (CEAS)

Provides authoritative, bespoke, professional advice to service and eligible MOD civilian families on a wide range of educational issues. Visit CEAS for more details.

Royal British Legion Industries Lifeworks

Royal British Legion Industries Lifeworks supports veterans and family members find additional training opportunities to enhance their civilian employment opportunities – call 0800 319 6844 or visit 

The Warrior Programme

Supports serving personnel, service leavers, veterans and their families improve performance and reach their potential.  You can 0808 8010898 or visit The Warrior Programme

UCAS

Offers advice and support to the armed forces community when applying for higher education. Visit UCAS for armed forces family members or UCAS for veterans and service leavers.

Naval Families Federation

Provide information about a range of education aspects, including primary, secondary, further, lifelong, and higher education. Visit Naval Families Federation

Army Families Federation

Provide advice and information about a range of education aspects including primary and secondary education, childcare, SEND, and higher education.

They also provide advice on training opportunities and adult learning for armed forces families. 

RAF Families Federation

Provide advice and information about a range of education aspects including primary and secondary education, childcare, early years, SEND, further and higher education.  Also provides information about training opportunities for armed forces families.

Forces Families Jobs

Forces Families Jobs provides an extensive list of training opportunities for families of serving personnel. 

Barnsley Council Skills and Employability Support

Skills and employability can support with accessing learning that will enhance civilian employability.  You can call on 01226 775100.

Barnsley Council Adults Skills and Community Learning 

Adult Skills and Community Learning courses and classes for people aged 19 and over who want to improve their wellbeing, employability and skills, or gain qualifications.

Employment

Barnsley Council

We support our armed forces community and want them to achieve their ambitions.

There's lots of roles to choose from with us. View our job vacancies.

Our skills and employability team can also support you to get back into training and employment.  

British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) 

The BFRS helps the armed forces community with their move into civilian life. It's open to service leavers, reserve forces, veterans and civilian MoD employees. It's also open to their partners and families.

The BFRS hold career events throughout the UK. These bring the armed forces community together with employers, training providers and support services.

You can find out more on the BFRS website or by calling 02476 939931.

Career Transition Partnership (CTP)

The CTP is the name of a scheme from the MoD and Right Management. Leavers from the forces at any rank can access resettlement support, career advice and training.

CTP is the official provider of armed forces resettlement. Ex-servicemen and women can receive support from the CTP for up to two years post discharge.

Forces Families Jobs 

Supports family members of currently serving UK military personnel to access employment, training and volunteering. Find out more about Forces Families Jobs.  

Jobcentre Plus

Armed forces champions in each jobcentre plus support veterans, serving personnel and their families.  They help you to get the right advice on finding a job and accessing appropriate benefits. Visit armed forces access to Jobcentre Plus services at GOV.UK

NHS

The NHS are proud to support the Armed Forces Community into a career in Healthcare. You can find out more information at:

Forces Employment

Forces Employment provide employment support for service leavers, reservists, veterans and family members.  You can call 0121 2623058.

South Yorkshire Police 

South Yorkshire Police have pledged to support the employment of veterans of all ages. Find jobs at South Yorkshire Police.   

Walking with the Wounded (WWTW)

WWTW supports those who've served in the armed forces and their families. They provide veterans with independence through employment. You can find out about how WWTW supports people to gain employment on their website.

Find out more at WWTW employment support.

Service Leavers Adjustments Passport

This passport provides an up to date record of any adjustments and/or other requirements a service leaver may need in civilian employment. The passport can be passed to future civilian employers by the service leaver, allowing them to have confident conversations with potential employers about any required adjustments the service leaver may need.

To find out more visit the Service Leavers Adjustments Passport page.

Royal British Legion Industries Lifeworks 

Tailored employment support for veterans and families of those still serving.  Call 0800 3196844 or we are life works.  

The Poppy Factory 

Employment support for veterans with health conditions and their families that support or care for them. Call 020 8939 1837 or visit The Poppy Factory.

The British Training Board (CIC)

Career development and support to translate military skills into civilian employment. Visit The British Training Board for more details.  

Buildforce (CIC)

Supports service leavers, veterans, reservists, and their spouses transition into professional careers in the construction industry. Also supports with CV and interview mentoring. Visit Buildforce for more details.  

Building Heroes

Offers opportunities for service leavers and veterans to retrain for a career in construction. Call 0330 912 6200 or visit Building Heroes. 

Salute My Job 

Support veterans and service leavers with the transition to civilian employment.  Call 01249 691416 or visit Salute My Job

Veterans Gateway

Veterans Gateway provides advice on transferring military skills into civilian employment, CV writing, and interview skills.

JobOppo

Support veterans with cv writing and interview skills, and connects them with armed forces friendly employers.  Call 0333 242 3857 or visit JobOppo.

Recruit for Spouses

Supports military spouses and partners to find meaningful employment. Call 0333 2020 996 or visit Recruit for Spouses.

Guidance for employers

You can read the following guides: 

Volunteering

Volunteering with us has lots of benefits. It can help you to:

  • gain confidence
  • meet new people
  • make a difference to people and your community
  • become part of the community
  • learn new skills and take on new challenges

Find out about our volunteering roles.

Volunteer with an armed forces charity

You can volunteer at a range of armed forces charities including: