Serco will deliver the MoD’s next-generation recruiting solution for the Royal Navy, the British Army, the Royal Air Force and Strategic Command following a rigorous competitive process. The contract sees recruitment for these branches of the military brought together for the first time. 

The Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS) contract will be for seven years, plus options for further three one-year extensions. A 21-month mobilisation period is expected to begin this April, with the new service beginning in early 2027. 

Mark Irwin, Serco Group CEO, said: “It is a true privilege to be selected to partner with the UK MoD in service of the nation’s current and future Armed Forces. Serco has been working with the MoD for over 60 years, and we fully recognise the critical importance of recruiting and retaining the right number of well-trained personnel willing to serve and defend their country. 

“Along with our partners, we have invested in the development of this solution since the procurement for AFRS was launched in 2021 and we are fully committed to ongoing collaboration with the MoD to ensure we adapt to current and emerging needs.” 

Serco will be the prime contractor and, in conjunction with a strong team of delivery partners, will provide an end-to-end service from candidate attraction through to assessment, enlistment and onboarding into initial training. 

The new recruitment service, including managing all Armed Forces Career Offices across the UK, will operate with a blended workforce that incorporates military service personnel. It is underpinned by best-in-class integrated technology, designed to improve the overall candidate experience at the same time as modernising and speeding up the current recruitment process. 

The principal members of ‘TEAM Serco’ are: 

• Serco – as the prime contractor, will be responsible for overall AFRS delivery including integration of all programme activities to be undertaken and will lead the transition from the current recruitment arrangements, providing career advice, a new contact centre, asset and fleet management, and estate management. 
• Pegasystems – specialises in enterprise transformation and platform solutions, empowering leading organisations worldwide. It is the current provider of the Recruiting Information Technology System for the RAF and Royal Navy.
• Adecco – with a presence in 60 countries, Adecco is a global leader in workforce solutions, supporting 3.5m careers daily. It is also the appointed prime partner of the tri-Service Australian Defence Force Recruiting contract. 
• Akkodis – as Adecco’s in-house technology business, Akkodis specialises in talent management digital solutions, with 20+ years supporting the UK MoD.
• TMP – the largest UK recruitment marketing agency, with over 80 industry awards for creativity and effectiveness. Their attraction and awareness campaigns utilise 1,200 media channels to recruit hard to fill roles across the public and private sector, plus the early careers space. 
• Optima Health – the UK’s leading supplier of employee health assessments. With a team of over 1,600 staff, it supports more than 10% of the entire UK working population. 
• PA Consulting – works across the defence and security ecosystem, helping it to innovate and transform. Their people are experienced industry professionals and leaders in building innovative systems and solutions.
• MPCT – is a leading provider of vocational education and training for people aged 16+ in the UK. With a focus on fitness, vocational qualifications and employability skills, MPCT prepares learners for rewarding careers in the Armed Forces or uniformed services. 

Serco has been a trusted partner to the UK Defence Enterprise for more than 60 years and this contract will build on its strength in the defence sector, which is the largest sector globally. 

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