DHL, which employs more than 42,000 people in the UK, has launched its own Military Employability Programme to recruit drivers from the ranks of those leaving the armed forces.
In partnership with the Careers Transition Partnership (CTP), a joint initative between the MoD and recruiter Manpower, the logistics giant has designed the programme to give armed forces personnel with up to six months left of their military service work experience at one of its 400 UK operations, with the likelehood of a job for suitable candidates.
The programme will launch early next month, when up to 40 service leavers will undergo a five-day training programme in either Bristol or Rugby. A 12-day placement driving for a DHL operation will follow this. The programme will encompass any Driver CPC training the drivers need.
The initiative is separate to Skills for Logistics' own high-profile military placement scheme launched in 2012, which provides placements and traineeships acorss the logisitcs sector.
Tim Slater, MD of Transport UK& Ireland at DHL Supply Chain, said: “Leavers from HM Forces posses a significant number of the core skills required to be successful drivers within our industry.
"The course has been specifically designed to plug any skills’ gaps they may have, to apply military driving expertise in the commercial world.”
DHL added that this will be the first in a number initiatives aimed at former armed forces personnel as it seeks to recruit for a range of job roles within its logistics operations.
By Emma Shone
