Serving in the armed forces, whether as a regular or a reserve, equips you with a multitude of transferrable skills and characteristics you may not even know you have. More importantly, future employers would jump at the chance to bring these skills into their organisations.

Examples of skills and characteristics you will possess include:

• Calmness under pressure. and sound judgement
• Problem Solving
• Teamwork
• Dedication
• Professionalism and a strong work ethic
• Integrity and loyalty
• Ability to work to tight deadlines
• Ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances
• Leadership and communication
• Resourcefulness and resilience

Membership of the cadet forces also equips you with several of these skills, alongside confidence and respect, setting you apart from the rest when employers are looking to recruit. 

Search for job and apprenticeship opportunities within Barnsley Council, Berneslai Homes, Barnsley College, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and South Yorkshire Police.

South Yorkshire Police also offer a degree apprenticeship programme and degree holder entry programme.

You can also access wider employment opportunities through Job Centre Plus.

CTP Right Job is the Career Transition Partnership’s online job finding service listing thousands of live vacancies for Service leavers with new ones added every day.

They work with hundreds of employers who recognise the talent pool leaving the Armed Forces and the experience and strong working ethos Service leavers bring after a military career.

Support is provided to ex-servicemen and women for up to two years post discharge. 

There are several organisations that specialise in supporting the armed forces community with employment, training and volunteering opportunities:

• British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) - provides the Armed Forces community the opportunity to meet and network with employers.
• Forces Families Jobs - training, employment and volunteer opportunities for family members of currently serving UK military personnel
• Job Centre Plus - access to a dedicated Armed Forces Champion within the jobcentre.
• Step into Health - a programme providing a dedicated pathway into a career in the NHS. 
• Forces Employment Charity - support with employment and training opportunities. 
• Forces Employment Charity Families Programme - supports civilian spouses and partners of serving and ex-Forces personnel on their journey into employment.
• Walking with the Wounded (WWTW) - deliver employment, mental health, care coordination and volunteering programmes to veterans who have been mentally, socially or physically wounded (also support families).
• The Poppy Factory - support veterans with health conditions on their journey into employment.

Barnsley Council's Skills and Employability team are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community to access learning, development, and career advice to upskill and find employment in Barnsley.

There is a team of friendly advisors who can work with you to explore a range of opportunities. Using your current skills, they will help you see what’s available and will help you to access the best options for you.

The team have recently supported a veteran to access a level 5 qualification and secure employment he is currently thriving in. 

If you’d like to learn new skills, gain experience, access training courses, access CV and interview support, visit our skills and employability webpage.

Volunteering can offer may benefits including providing a sense of community, an opportunity to expand your social circle, learning new skills, improving job prospects, improving confidence, and maintaining physical and mental health, not to mention the benefits it brings to those you are helping through volunteering. 

If you would like to explore the option of volunteering alongside employment, or until you find the job for you, the following links may help.

Barnsley Council  Barnsley CVS  

 SSAFA  Royal British Legion 

Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Barnsley has army, sea and air cadet forces within the borough, and as an adult cadet volunteer you can help make a real difference to young people's lives by leading, inspiring and guiding.

As an adult cadet volunteer you can meet like minded people while having fun, learning new skills, potentially gaining new qualifications and developing your leadership potential.

If having lots of fun, taking part in action and adventure, while also giving back to the community, engaging in self-development and inspiring our younger generation is for you, why not visit the cadet forces websites and explore their adult volunteering opportunities.

• Army Cadet volunteers
• Sea Cadet volunteers
• Air Cadet volunteers

The Barnsley Council Armed Forces website is a site dedicated to signposting the armed forces community to sources of support in several areas including 'Employment, Education and Skills'. Additional areas of support include:

• Community and Relationships
• Help with Finance and Debt
• Health and Wellbeing
• Making a Home in Civilian Society
• Veterans and the Law

The site also provides updates on events and activities taking place, alongside additional work being undertaken to support our local armed forces community.

The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) encourages employers to support defence and inspire others to do the same. The scheme encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

The scheme acknowledges employers who have provided exceptional support to the armed forces community through the tiered award system.

There are several businesses within Barnsley with an award and work is underway to support those looking to join the scheme.

Bronze Award Holders

• 3GS (UK) Ltd
• Berneslai Homes LTD
• Fresh Park Chilled Foods
• Premdor Crosby International/Doorstep International LTD
• The Combat Academy LTD
• Welfare Call (LAC) LTD
• Nivalis Tech LTD
• Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Silver Award Holders

• G8 Lettings and Property Management LTD

Gold Award Holders

• Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council 
• South Yorkshire Police

Unveiling ceremony

The next unveiling ceremony is due to take place on Saturday 10th June 2023 at 2:00pm. The ceremony will be part of the Armed Forces focused Joining Forces Day taking place in the town centre.

There are 3 new stones to be unveiled to commemorate the following individuals who served their country:

• Lance Corporal J A Salisbury of 2nd Battalion, Light Infantry.
• Corporal R Dolman of the Royal Military Police.
• Flight-Sergeant J J Copley DFM of Bomber Command, Seven Squadron.

The walkway is located on Westgate, by the college gardens and is a dedicated area to commemorate the borough's armed forces serving, fallen and ex-services personnel.

Purchasing a stone

If you would like to purchase a stone this can be done at any time of the year.

Stones can be purchased for anyone that has served in any of HM Armed Forces with a strong connection with the borough preferred. Stones can also be purchased to represent a unit with a clear link to Barnsley.

Each stone costs £300 which is inclusive of:

• VAT
• Engraving
• Positioning on the walkway

There aims to be one unveiling ceremony each year where any new purchased stones will be unveiled. If you are interested in purchasing a stone for an individual, or on behalf of a unit, visit the HM Armed Forces Walkway page.

Armed Forces Day 2023 is being held on Saturday 10th June in Barnsley Town Centre 

The event will begin with a marching parade setting off from Church Street in front of the Town Hall, ending in the Town Centre. This will be followed by a full day of family friendly activities, stalls, performances, fundraising etc, all taking place in the town centre / Glass Works square and surrounding areas.

Work is taking place to secure activities and events including:

• Military marching band and a marching parade to open the event
• Dedicated Veterans breakfast / meeting area
• Activities such as a climbing wall, eSports bus, air soft range, archery tag,           reaction tests
• Military police and vehicles
• Representation from all 3 military branches including the cadets, reservists         and engagement teams.

The day promises a fantastic schedule of events and activities to celebrate our Armed Forces, with further detail to be shared as plans progress. 

There will be something for everyone so come on down and have a great day!

Future Armed Forces Day Celebrations will be alternated between being held in Barnsley Town Centre and Penistone Show Ground.

The South Yorkshire DWP Armed Forces Champions team, part of job centre plus, are looking to put on a Work and Health Fair for ex-forces personnel and their families.

The aim of the fair is to enable employers and charities to help provide support and information to our local Ex-Armed Forces Community and their families.

The event will be South Yorkshire based, with previous events well attended by employers who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and who want to benefit from the incredible skills of our Ex-Forces community.

When a date and venue for the South Yorkshire event has been confirmed this will be communicated with the Barnsley armed forces community, so why not pop down and see what employment and support opportunities are on offer.

Barnsley Council are undertaking a needs analysis to establish experiences of the transition from military to civilian life, and any areas where extra support may be needed.

To help with this and to complement statistical data available to us, a survey has been produced to allow members of the armed forces community to convey their views about their overall experience of the transition from Service to civilian life. The survey also gives reservists, families, carer's, the bereaved and cadets the opportunity to offer their experience of being a member of the armed forces community. The link to the survey will be circulated through the armed forces community networks as soon as this is live.