Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much it costs to train an Armed Forces Champion in a job centre.

The Armed Forces Champion (AFC) provides a key role in connecting DWP and the Armed Forces community.

As former experienced Work Coaches, AFCs will have completed the full Work Coach learning and had the opportunity to embed their learning prior to becoming an Armed Forces Champion. DWP provides AFCs with point of need learning which covers the knowledge and skills required to provide tailored support for ex-service personnel.

The learning includes support with the transition to civilian life, support and training with looking for work, support for those with health conditions and signposting to specialist organisations and charities aimed at helping ex-service personnel, for example the Armed Forces Benevolent fund, Veterans UK, Armed forces Pensions and Armed Forces Job Centre services.

AFC training is facilitated by internal DWP officers, lasting 4 weeks, which based on estimated salary costs for both Work Coach and facilitator comes to £4,186. On completion of the 4-week Work Coach learning the AFC completes a 2-day self-paced workbook, using estimated salary costs this equates to £386.44 per Armed Forces Champion.