Southampton City Council supports reservists and veterans

Individuals in the Reserve Forces, known as reservists, are ordinary men and women who give up their spare time to train and serve alongside the Regular Forces.

Members of the Reserve Forces are an important element of the nation's total defence capacity. As a reservist, individuals receive a range of specialist training and transferrable skills they can take back into their day jobs.

Southampton City Council recognises the benefits of reservists within our workforce. We have supportive policies to enable them to be at their best in both their military and civilian careers.

Case study: Justin Baker - Health & Safety Compliance Officer

Justin joined the Royal Engineers as a boy soldier in 1988, and went on to serve with 24 Field Squadron, serving in Canada, Germany, Bosnia and Northern Ireland. Postings to 36 Engineer Regiment and Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) saw Justin serving in the Falkland Islands, Malawi, India, Afghanistan, and a return to Iraq. In 2018, Justin left the army in the rank of Staff Sergeant.

During his resettlement and transition back to Civvy Street, Justin completed courses in:

• Facilities Management
• Project Management
• National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH)

"I then attended a jobs fair which was part of my resettlement at the Hampshire Bowl Southampton, where I met the Armed Forces Covenant Programme Manager for Portsmouth, Southampton, Gosport and the Isle of Wight. I mentioned that I was interested in a health and safety role as my future career. It was suggested I carried out work experience with Southampton City Council (SCC) and I was introduced to the Service Lead for City Services, who organised for me to spend a few days looking at different areas of the Service, including Waste Operations and Street Cleansing.

"After completing the work experience I joined the Temporary Employment Agency and started driving mechanical sweepers for SCC. Some months later an opportunity to drive the refuse vehicles arose, and I spent another five months driving these vehicles.

"A vacancy presented itself as a Safety, Health and Compliance Officer with SCC. I applied and was successful. I started in my new appointment in November 2018.

"As part of my Continuous Personnel Development I have started my Diploma in Health and Safety with National Compliance and Risk Qualifications (NCRQ), which Southampton City Council has been fully supportive of and have funded this qualification.

"I am looking forward to my new chapter and career with SCC and appreciate the opportunity they have given me for my transition from the military to civilian life."

Further information

Find out more about work experience at Southampton City Council.