From troops to trades: a veteran’s journey to an electrotechnical career

“My rifle, my kit, myself.”

That is the daily mantra that Corporal Karl Turner repeats to himself every day. He learned it at the start of his service in the army. The phrase embodies a philosophy – that those three things, in that order, will save you in a difficult situation – which he has carried over into civilian life as owner and Managing Director of Reorg Installations Ltd. 

Karl joined the army in 2002 and served with the Royal Engineers in the Bomb Disposal unit. He served all over the world, including two operational tours of Afghanistan. 

I had all this electrical experience and knowledge, but without the AM2 I couldn’t get a job at a level that suited my skills

Karl acquired extensive electrical skills during his training, which consisted of a year of electrical trades training in college and industry in addition to 12 weeks of infantry training and 10 weeks combat engineer training. 

From troops to trades

When he left the army in 2010, to focus on supporting his young family, Karl struggled to find a job that matched his skills. Despite his technical knowledge and experience, the Army had not provided the critical AM2 assessment. This is key to obtaining an ECS Gold card and working as a fully qualified electrician.

“In a sense, it felt like taking two steps forward and one step back,” Karl said. “I had all this electrical experience and knowledge, but without the AM2 I couldn’t get a job at a level that suited my skills.”

Industry and employers value the skills, work ethic and organisation of those who have been in the military

“When I first entered the electrical sector after the army, I was reporting to managers with far less technical knowledge than me, which was a challenge at times.”

Once Karl obtained his AM2 and ECS Gold card, he quickly rose the ranks to become co-director of Noble Electrical, a business which he helped run until 2018 when he left to start his own company, Reorg Installations.

“The term ‘Reorg’ comes from the military,” he said. “It means to reorganise and regroup, usually after an exercise or engagement. I wanted my own company to have a name that reflects the values and work ethic I took away from my time in the forces.”

“Many employers are not aware of the skillset an ex-serviceman or woman can bring to a job,” Karl added. “Veterans are often versatile, tactically-minded, solutions-focused individuals with a strong work ethic – exactly the kind of colleague I would want onsite.” 

Around 14,000 people leave the armed forces each year, many of whom are not aware of the opportunities available within the construction industry

New opportunities

Since 2020, veterans have had more opportunities than ever to transfer the electrical skills and qualifications gained in service to a rewarding career in their civilian life.

The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) announced that electrical military qualifications for the Corps of Royal Engineers would form a route to an Installation Electrician occupation and ECS Registered Electrician status.

Andy Reakes, Head of Growth at the ECS, said, “Industry and employers value the skills, work ethic and organisation of those who have been in the military. This is why ECS cards awarded to those who qualify through this route will be recognised with ‘HM Forces Trained’ on the reverse of their ECS card to show the standards which have been met by the individual.”

The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership (TESP) is also actively working with other branches of the armed forces to develop routes into the industry for veterans.

Following the announcement, the JIB announced that Electrical and Mechanical Draughtspersons can have their qualifications recognised through ECS as a CAD Engineer. Visit the ECS website for more information. 

Further support

Military values like discipline, hard work and leadership are highly sought after in the construction and electrical sectors, and there are many resources and organisations in place to help veterans find their next role and succeed.

One such organisation is BuildForce, a UK-wide, employer-led initiative that helps former armed services personnel find rewarding careers in the construction and built environment sectors. It connects the military community to construction careers through a UK-wide alliance of employers, industry bodies and charities, supported by government.

Around 14,000 people leave the armed forces each year, many of whom are not aware of the opportunities available within the construction industry. The BuildForce initiative, part-funded by the CITB Structured & Flexible Fund, was founded by a coalition of British businesses including Carillion, Crossrail, EY, Lendlease, Morgan Sindall and Wilson James.

A job in construction isn’t just about being on the tools (hard hats & building sites), it is accessible to all ranks and skill sets, and offers real potential for career progression

Support includes training, mentoring, site visits and work placements, all preparing the prospective candidates for interviews and securing roles. The service is underpinned with mental health support, on-hand to offer guidance and advice as the service leavers make their transition.

Caroline Logan, BuildForce Programme Director said, “BuildForce is simply matching military skills to construction demands. The broad spectrum of roles that the industry is seeking compliments the skillset the military train for. 

“We talk about the parallel lines of a military posting and a construction site; working outside in arduous conditions which are often dangerous, being part of a team, the camaraderie, following orders, attention to detail; these are just a few of the transferable skills the military have in abundance.

“A job in construction isn’t just about being on the tools (hard hats & building sites), it is accessible to all ranks and skill sets, and offers real potential for career progression. Having a framework that engages with and understands the individual’s needs and capabilities is what underpins the successful achievements of BuildForce to this day.”