An ex-headhunter who set up a charity to help injured services personnel into work has urged recruiters not to hire soldiers, sailors and air crew out of sympathy.

Nicholas Harrison set up Soldier On! three years ago, after working for niche defence sector headhunter Benchmark Search. Harrison said: “We are not doing this out of sympathy. We do not say ’take this candidate because they are wounded’, but consider them and recruit them because they add real value and are the answer to your recruitment needs.”

Harrison cited three reasons why employers should hire wounded ex-forces personnel:

• their “global contribution” including humanitarian work
• the military covenant between the services and the rest of society
• their unique qualifications, skills and character traits

Soldier On! has been chosen as the official charity at this year’s Recruiter Awards for Excellence, supported by Innovate CV. During the event at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, on 11 May, there will be a charity collection and a prize draw. www.soldieron.org.uk