To mark the launch of Op PROSPER, Paul visited a local veterans charity Project RECCE. He met with local businessman and co-founder of Project RECCE, Neil Houlihan as well as fellow Army Officer and Chief Operating Officer, John Davies to learn more about their charity and discuss the launch of Op PROSPER.
Project RECCE is a thriving, national Charity that is pioneering new and innovative ways to resettle Military Veterans and Service Leavers in the UK Construction Industry and wider science, technology, engineering and manufacturing sectors.
Paul Athans, the prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hazel Grove said:
It was fantastic to meet with the energetic and selfless Project RECCE team. As a Regular Army Veteran, I know first hand some of the employment challenges veterans can face when they leave the Armed Forces. Project RECCE started in Stockport, but it now has a national footprint, helping hundreds of service leavers find stable employment.
I truly admire their ambition to expand and help even more veterans. I will champion their cause every step of the way.
This government wants to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran. I agree, and now I want to make Hazel Grove the best constituency to be a veteran.
Op PROSPER is a wraparound employment service to support veterans into work after they leave the Armed Forces.
OP PROSPER will be backed by £2.1 million in new funding. The scheme will support veterans in securing high paid jobs, where they can hone the skills that they developed in the military in key sectors that are helping to boost the economy. This includes areas like cyber and digital, manufacturing, energy and financial and professional services.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:
The courageous men and women who have served in our Armed Forces represent the very best of our country and we must serve them as well as they have served us.
They deserve our full support to thrive in civilian life and to continue contributing their incredible skills to the prosperity of our country. That is why I am proud to announce OP PROSPER, which will support veterans in securing high-skilled roles in key sectors that are helping to grow the economy.
Veterans’ employment in the UK is at an all-time high, at 89%, but there is more we can do. Op PROSPER will build on the support already available and will improve awareness of the skills and talents of veterans among industry and employers, to encourage businesses to hire veterans.
The initiative will also provide wrap-around support to veterans and their families, delivered by experienced employability professionals. This will make sure that they are supported to go straight into new roles or take the next step in their existing career.
In 2022, the Government introduced a 12-month National Insurance relief for employers hiring veterans into their first role after service, which has been extended for another year. This tax incentive gives businesses potential savings of up to £6,200 per employee, while also allowing them to benefit from the fantastic skills and experience that veterans bring.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Johnny Mercer said:
Our veterans leave the military with an abundance of skills, and the tenacity and drive to continue achieving greatness. But for too long, too many have ended up in jobs that don’t fully harness their talents and abilities. That is why we’re introducing Op PROSPER.
By connecting veterans with employers, engaging industry bodies on the importance of hiring veterans, and strengthening their qualifications and skills, this Government will ensure more ex-servicemen and women are securing high quality and fulfilling employment.
Hiring a veteran is one of the best business decisions a company can make, and OP PROSPER will help ensure this is realised by all employers across the country.
The Government has committed to make the UK the best place in the world for veterans, providing an additional £33 million in funding to support veterans over the next three years, with a further £10 million announced in the 2023 Autumn statement for veterans’ healthcare. In 2021, Op COURAGE was launched as a bespoke mental health support for veterans supported by professionals who are from or have experience of working with the military community, and over 30,000 veterans have used this service to date.
Earlier this year the government launched a new digital service enabling veterans to verify their veteran status and apply for a Veteran Card, streamlining the process to access veteran-specific support. Since the project launched, almost 100,000 Veteran Cards have been issued.
The Veteran Card provides veterans with a clear recognition of service, a tangible link to the Armed Forces, and allows them to easily verify their veteran status to access support and services from government, charities, and local authorities.
This government established the Office for Veterans’ Affairs to better coordinate veterans’ policy, bring together and improve our knowledge of veterans, and provide dedicated policy work on veterans. In October last year, the Government launched a consultation to gather views from veterans and intends to publish the first ever draft Veterans Bill outlining how we could legislate to ensure that the progress made in recent years to transform veterans’ care in this country is secured. With the Veterans’ Strategy at its core, this will maintain the momentum on our ambition to make the UK the best place in the world to be a veteran.
