The BBC reports the initiative, launched by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) in the Cabinet Office, starts start this spring within the Ministries of Justice and Defence, as well as the Cabinet and Home Offices.

There is no set time limit for military leavers on when they can take up the guaranteed interview offer.

Successful candidates will be shortlisted provided they meet basic selection criteria and the offer applies retrospectively to all veterans.

Ex-military engineer Craig Elvin and director of executive search firm Executive Heads welcomed the news.
 
“It’s fantastic and I believe a lot of the functions will benefit from having veterans within them.
  
“It’s important to try and humanise the process. A lot of people from non-service backgrounds will have the characterisation of Windsor Davies in their mind when they think of someone from the military.
 
“Candidates need to be prepared to talk about themselves, their personal circumstances and aspirations, as well as any concerns they might have about coming out of the military.”
 
Elvin adds veterans need to understand their commercial value to companies.
 
“Lots of areas of the military have been run like small business, so candidates need to display at interview what hiring them could mean for the business commercially.
 
“Whether they’ve driven efficiency, overseen budgets or managed people - be that a troop, platoon, or battalion - being able to articulate your worth will really help them to stand out.”

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