- Uber has partnered with the Forces Employment Charity to help service leavers, veterans and reservists into meaningful, flexible civilian work.
- Uber drivers have the flexibility and independence to choose when and where they drive, whilst being guaranteed a minimum wage, a pension plan, holiday pay and free insurance to cover sickness, injury and new parent payments.
- Veterans will be able to access free degree-level Open University Courses while driving on Uber, helping them learn new skills for future roles as they move into the civilian workforce.
Uber today announced a new partnership with the Forces Employment Charity to provide targeted support to help military veterans transition into flexible civilian work.
Every year around 15,000 individuals leave military service. Many transition to civilian life with ease, whilst others require additional support to find employment. The Forces Employment Charity provides life-long, life-changing support, job opportunities, and training to Service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families, regardless of circumstances, rank, length of service, or reason for leaving, to enable them to find employment success.
In support of this, Uber has created a new Veterans Pathway to help them on the road to civvy street. The partnership will help former military personnel to apply the substantial skills and experience acquired during their military careers to new opportunities.
Veterans signing up through the new pathway will have the total flexibility to choose if, when and where they work. But they will also have the opportunity to unlock a range of benefits, including:
- £2,500 for their first month if they complete 200 trips.
- An additional £750 sign up reward once they complete their first 50 trips in the first 90 days.
- A guarantee to always earn at least the National Living Wage with financial top ups from Uber if required, although 99% of drivers can and do earn more.
- Access to enrollment into a worker pension scheme with contributions from Uber, alongside driver contributions.
- Holiday pay based on 12.07% of their weekly earnings (after expenses) to reflect statutory holiday pay.
- Access to free Partner Protection insurance through our third party provider in case of sickness, accident or injury and Parental payments for new mums and dads to support the cost of a new arrival.
Andrew Brem, General Manager, Uber UK, said:
“We have huge respect and admiration for those who have served the United Kingdom, and recognise the unique qualities and abilities of those in the veteran community. We believe that these qualities, such as discipline, reliability and resourcefulness, make ex-service personnel hugely valuable members of any workforce with a great amount to offer. By providing access to flexible earning opportunities to help veterans start their careers we’re hoping to play our part in supporting those who have served as they transition into civilian careers.”
Alistair Halliday, CEO of Forces Employment Charity, said:
“Veterans leave the Military with an abundance of skills and attributes that are often highly transferable and incredibly sought after in the civilian world. However, we know that veterans can sometimes struggle to recognise how their skills fit within a civilian role. It is fantastic that Uber is actively opening up opportunities for the Military community, in recognition of how much veterans can contribute to the workforce. We are delighted to be involved in this new partnership and look forward to seeing the impact it will have in the long-term.”
Under the scheme, Uber will help veterans who wish to sign up to become Uber drivers, with tailored support, guidance and financial benefits as part of their transition into meaningful work in civilian life
Veterans who go on to become Diamond Drivers on Uber Pro will then get access to free Open University Courses to help them find new opportunities or learn new skills as they earn on Uber. The Open University and Uber partnership means drivers or a family member will be able to take a fully funded undergraduate degree-level course to enable them to take that next step.
Veterans will also get dedicated support with the onboarding and licensing process to get them earning on the Uber platform as soon as possible. Uber has 21 Greenlight Hubs in 19 major cities across the UK where veterans can visit to access expert support from our network.
