Project RECCE works alongside armed forces charities and within the armed forces community, to deliver sector specific training, health and safety qualifications, networking skills, mock interviews and mental health awareness to ex-military personnel.

The project offers two week training courses which provide all of the insight and awareness a service leaver needs in order to commence a career in construction. The courses culminate with mock interviews and opportunities to network with potential employers.

Nigel Sharp, Operations Director and Emma Robinson, HR Manager at John Turner Construction joined a panel of eight employers in a one hour zoom session to conduct the mock interviews.

The purpose of the interviews was to allow the project’s students to try out a newly learned elevator pitch and presentation skills.

Many of the ex-forces students had not had an interview for many years and the aim was to boost confidence, receive constructive feedback and advice on gaining entry to roles into construction.

Nigel was able to provide examples of how ex-military personnel had been successful within John Turner Construction, particularly in health and safety. He talked about how the military’s discipline had reaped benefits for John Turner Construction in the achievement of 10 gold RoSPA awards between 2005 and 2014 when the Company’s SHEQ Manager at that time was an ex-Royal Engineer.

John Turner Construction now hopes to forge links with Project RECCE students by offering mentoring support and will continue to be involved with the project by committing to further events.