Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support veterans transitioning to civilian employment in the North East.

All Service Leavers receive support in their transition to civilian employment, retirement or into education, including those located in the North East. This support is specifically designed to provide expert advice and access to the right resources and opportunities.

Support specifically aimed at helping veterans into civilian employment is provided by the Career Transition Partnership (CTP). This includes tailored advice and guidance from career experts, support with CV writing, employment fairs, access to a job vacancy portal, recruitment open days, dedicated Employer Relationship Managers and training courses to upskill and qualify Service Leavers for their future careers across the United Kingdom.

For those more than two years post-service and looking to take the next step in their career, Op ASCEND connects veterans and their families with employers, supporting them into roles in strategic sectors. Op ASCEND has successfully engaged over 420 employers and has supported 4,600 veterans and family members since its commencement in 2024. CTP and Op ASCEND make up the spine of continuous employment support provided by the Ministry of Defence for Service leavers and veterans. Armed Forces Champions are also based across the UK’s JobCentre Plus network to help support members of the Armed Forces community into work.

The most recent statistics from the CTP (Jan-July 2025) reveal that over 88% of Service Leavers were in employment six months post discharge.