Veterans attend job fair to plan new careers

The National Transition Event at Silverstone aims to get Armed Forces personnel into employment

More than 1,000 Armed Forces personnel, 200 charities and other organisations have gathered for a major employment fair at a race track.

The third annual National Transition Event at Silverstone Circuit in Northamptonshire aimed to connect veterans and cadets with employers and support services.

Veterans can also go on a track tour in a variety of supercars.

Event organiser Jonny Ball said the job fair was an "alien environment" for many veterans.

"They're not used to talking about themselves, they're used to talking themselves as a team," said Mr Ball, who is a veteran himself.

"The magic of the National Transition Event is that you'll find veterans wearing a different uniform behind their stand... they've been through that process themselves and that makes the process far easier."

Jonny Ball organised the National Transition Event

According to a 2022 survey by the Office of National Statistics, fewer than half of veterans (43.2%) feel prepared for civilian life after service, while more than a third (34.7%) report feeling unprepared.

Mr Ball helped create the event to aid veterans understand the civilian job market and connect them with organisations offering support.

Darren Wright, founder of the charity Veterans into Logistics, said: "Last year we supported over 270 veterans and got them into employment.

"We retrain them, we upskill them, we get them an HGV licence and we get them into employment.

"We save people's lives, and I'm proud to be here."

Chris Elliott, an ambassador for PTSD Resolution, which has helped more than 4,000 veterans, said he struggled with depression for a long time.

"I've been a beneficiary of the charity, and it's completely turned my life around."