BARCLAYS ARMED FORCES TRANSITION, EMPLOYMENT AND RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMME

That this House welcomes the Armed Forces Transition, Employment, and Resettlement (AFTER) programme, established by Barclays, which aims to champion and harness the potential of ex-military talent in the commercial sector, and offers a range of mentoring, coaching and employment opportunities; notes the findings of research conducted for the programme that employers overlook applicants' military experience in favour of attributes such as charity or volunteering experience; further notes with particular concern that one in 10 employers would look unfavourably on someone who had served in the armed forces; and considers that many veterans have skills and experience that can be hugely advantageous to civilian employers and that programmes such as the Barclays AFTER Programme are crucial in helping ex-forces personnel make the transition from the armed forces to civilian life.