Stoll teams up with partners to support Veterans into work

Forty Veterans will be supported this year with skills, training and qualifications to help them into work and volunteering roles. Stoll, the leading provider of supported housing for Veterans, has been awarded £19,700 by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund to enable more Veterans to be independent.

Good training and skills help people maximise income and re-enter the workplace after the Armed Forces. People can also build their skills, confidence and self esteem through volunteering. Stoll will partner with several different organisations to ensure Veterans receive bespoke support that meets their needs.

Ed Tytherleigh, Stoll’s Chief Executive, said: “Increasingly, Veterans of working age tell us that they want to engage in volunteering and paid employment, but need support to go about it. Our housing provision at a social rent gives vulnerable Veterans a secure platform from which to go on and live fulfilling lives after a period of upheaval. But if we are to encourage people to be independent and move on from Stoll, we also need to help Veterans find paid employment after Service. That’s why we are delighted to have received funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund so that we can support more people into work.”

Employment for Veterans is not always straightforward. Working-age Veterans are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as their civilian counterparts, according to research by the Royal British Legion. There are several complex reasons for this and at Stoll we recognise the importance of promoting the benefits of hiring Veterans to potential employers.

The new initiative directly addresses the employability of Veterans, maximising opportunities by building strong links with potential employers, and increasing the confidence and skills of Veterans through workshops in CV writing, interview skills and job search. We will be partnering with a range of expert providers, including The Poppy Factory, RFEA, Career Transition Partnership, SAGE, Fighting Chance, Warrior Programme and the Barclays AFTER Programme.

Stoll will provide small grants to assist with the cost of work-related courses and materials. Veterans will also be expected to part-fund any courses/equipment to ensure their commitment.

Stoll is a proud ERS Gold Award Winner 2018, and this employment initiative will form part of our commitment to the Employer Recognition Scheme, promoting the benefits of employing Veterans in the community to employers.