Those who serve

Service, skills and careers in FM. Simon Porter, ISS UK Defence Commercial Lead describes the work of the services supplier in supporting the veteran community

In a sector defined by complexity, scale and the pressure to deliver day in, day out, finding the right talent has always been one of the most important challenges facing facilities management. FM runs on the people who keep buildings, services and operations moving, and some of the most capable hands in our industry are those that have already served their country.

At ISS, we’ve seen first-hand the discipline, leadership, technical and problem-solving skills the military community bring to our industry. ISS have supported hundreds of veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses to transition into rewarding, long-term careers, and we’re incredibly proud to champion pathways for veterans in FM.

That dedication was acknowledged earlier this year when ISS was recertified at Gold under the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme, our third consecutive Gold award since 2015. It reflects more than a decade of sustained support for the military community and underlines why we’re determined to keep unlocking the untapped strengths veterans, reservists and service families bring to our sector.

WHY THE SKILLS OF THE MILITARY COMMUNITY TRAVEL SO WELL INTO FM

The crossover between military service and FM is not an accident. The skills the armed forces develop in their people (leadership under pressure, discipline, the ability to deliver against the clock, responsibility and accountability) are the same competencies our customers rely on every single day. With many service leavers also bringing technical skillsets with them, from engineering and logistics to communications and project management, you have a workforce that is, in many ways, ready-made for our sector.

At the heart of how ISS engages with the military community sits the Armed Forces Covenant. A promise by the nation that those who serve, and their families, should be treated fairly and face no disadvantage when accessing public and commercial services. ISS UK & Ireland has been a signatory since 2015, renewing the commitment in 2026. That renewal isn’t a piece of paperwork; it shapes how we recruit, how we develop our people, and how we support reservists, veterans, cadet volunteers and service families across the business.

JointForces@ISS is the most visible expression of that commitment. Launched in 2017, the programme has helped hundreds of service leavers, veterans, reservists and military spouses build careers in FM, and in 2021 it was recognised with the IWFM Impact Award for Social Value. It’s the engine room of everything ISS does in this space, the place where the policies and the certificates translate into actual careers.

The strength of any programme is best measured by the people who have come through it. Elliott Weaver joined ISS in 2023 after leaving the forces, having joined the infantry in 2012. Now an Operation Manager working on a major account at ISS, Elliott plays a key role in operational delivery, drawing on the structured problem-solving and team leadership he developed in service. He truly believes programmes like the JointForces@ISS help to give people like him the foundation to build a rewarding career outside of the armed forces.

“FM is, in many ways, a natural second career for people leaving the forces,” Elliott says. “Both worlds are built on routine, on standards, on the discipline of getting things right the first time and looking after the people around you. That’s what makes ex-forces personnel so well suited to this industry. A career in FM can offer real progression, real responsibility, and a sense of purpose that translates very directly from service life.

“For those considering making the transition into FM, my advice is to make the step. It could be the beginning of another incredible journey for you.”

A COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING VETERANS FOR THE LONG-TERM

Being recognised for a commitment to the veterans’ community, is something to be proud of but it isn’t a finish line. The next phase is about visibility: making sure service leavers, reservists and military spouses across the country know that FM is a sector that wants them, and that employers like ISS will back them through the transition and well beyond it. It’s about deepening the partnerships we already have and being honest about where we can still do better.

That ambition is one of the reasons ISS is proud to sponsor the IWFM Veterans in FM Network, a community dedicated to strengthening the bridge between the armed forces community and our sector. As Martin Burholt, Chief Operating Officer at ISS UK & Ireland, put it in a recent interview with the network, the veteran community is becoming an increasingly important part of the ISS workforce, not just because of what they bring on day one, but because of the contribution they go on to make over the course of a long career in FM. The more employers that engage with the Network, the more service leavers will see FM as a natural next step, and the stronger our industry will be for it.

The real measure of this work is the careers it creates. The ex-military community has given a great deal to this country. The least our sector can do is make sure that, when the time comes to take the uniform off, the door into facilities management is wide open and the welcome is real.