A brand new ‘one-stop-shop’ website, Forces Families Jobs (FFJ), goes live on 17 September, providing free access to employment and training opportunities to families in the UK’s Armed Forces.
Finding employment
Families can apply for jobs with companies and organisations who are ‘Forces family’ friendly – who understand the unique challenges that come with being a family member in the Armed Forces. They can use this free-to-use website with confidence, knowing that employers advertising their job vacancies have signed the Armed Forces Covenant, or are able to demonstrate their commitment to the Armed Forces. There are already thousands of vacancies on the site, with more being added all the time from companies such as Santander, Amazon UK and Royal Mail.
Families can search directly for live jobs online, as well as upload their CV and register for regular updates. There is also the option for employers to be able to match submitted CVs to the roles they are recruiting for, both in the UK and overseas.
Training and career support
FFJ is also the place to go for training on how to write a CV, preparing for an interview, business start-up programmes, volunteering roles, funding towards training, career events or insight days. All offered by well-known service charities and or organisations willing to support through training.
Who is eligible to use the site?
- Spouses, partners and adult children, aged 18-25, of currently serving and reserve personnel.
- Spouses, partners, and adult children, aged 18-25, of service personnel who have left the Armed Forces within the last 12 months.
- Bereaved spouses, partners and adult children, aged 18-25, for up to two years, post-service.
The need for FFJ
Recent tri-Service research, commissioned by the Army Families Federation and conducted by Warwick Institute for Employment Research, resulted in a key recommendation to create a central portal for employment and training opportunities for military spouses and family members.
Military spouse, Jane O’Brien said:
“I thought I knew what to expect as a military wife working… I was wrong! It can be a bumpy ride and one that is very unique and underestimated. In 2018 my husband was deployed. It’s the first time I have felt alone and this had an impact on both me and my five-year-old son.
“However, I was fortunate in that my line manager, a Covenant signatory, was incredibly supportive and this was a huge relief.”
Johnny Mercer MP, Minister for Defence People and Veterans, said:
“We know that being a military family member often means moving regularly, creating gaps in CVs and frequent job changes.
“This website will provide a one-stop-shop and a forces-friendly facility that will help support service families in accessing job and training opportunities.”
Employers looking to join FFJ
Employers who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant are able to use FFJ to promote their job vacancies as a free-of-charge service – they can simply contact the FFJ team and they will advise on the next steps to take. Those with training offers are also welcome to contact the FFJ team or their single Service Families Federations.
Launch events and further information
There are many launch events and promotional stands present throughout the coming months, simply go to the homepage at forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk to find out more or email the team at help@forcesfamiliesjobs.co.uk.
A tri-service project
This website has been produced through collaborative working between the Naval, Army and RAF Families Federations in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence Relationship Management team.
Thanks to our partners who have provided funding and support to enable FFJ to happen:
- Annington Trust
- Army Benevolent Fund (ABF)
- Army Central Fund
- Broadbean
- Defence Relationship Management (DRM)
- Manpower Group
- Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA)
- Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC)
- University of Wolverhampton
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Notes to editor:
Forces Families Jobs is delivered by a tri-Service collaboration with the Naval, Army and RAF Families Federations and is a product of the Army Families Federation (AFF).
All three families federations have websites:
They each contain information about aspects of their respective single Service for families and their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages also offer families other easy ways to contact them.
Points of contact:
- Naval FF: Cinmi Walker, Marketing & Communications Manager – info@nff.org.uk or T: 023 9265 4374 | M: 075 5471 5682
- Army FF: Paul Larsmon, Head of Communications, communicationshd@aff.org.uk or
T: 01264 382316 - RAF FF: Caroline Woodward, Communications Manager – caroline.woodward@raf-ff.org.uk or T: 01780 781650 | M: 078 1197 6882
Imagery provided:
- Forces Families Jobs logo ©FFJ
