Expleo: Leading the way as a Forces-Friendly Employer

As proud Gold-award winners of the Defence Recognition Scheme, Expleo has been championing and supporting the Armed Forces Community for a number of years. They have gone above and beyond in their commitment to veterans, military spouses, and reservists, and here at Troopr, we take a look at why Expleo is one of the UK’s top Forces-Friendly organisations.

Expleo and their pledge to the Armed Forces community

Expleo is a global engineering, technology, and consulting company with 50+ years of experience in business transformation, operational excellence, and innovation across AI, digitalisation, automation, cybersecurity, and data science. There are almost 100 employees who are from the Armed Forces community, working across the Expleo team in wide-ranging roles from head of cyber to systems engineering to account management. 

Since signing the Armed Forces Covenant in 2022, Expleo have worked hard to achieve the highest level of recognition. Jonathan Taylor, VP Marine at Expleo, said: “Gold signifies that Expleo has successfully embedded a new culture that embraces the benefits of including former members of forces in our teams and values the skills and experience they bring. We’re proud to call ourselves a forces-friendly employer and to see our community of ex-forces employees growing year-on-year.”

If you're curious about how this support translates into real-life stories, check out The Journey from Military to Digital Engineering.

Why work for Expleo?

• Expleo has a dedicated Armed Forces email address, where members of the community reach out and gain valuable insight and resources while on their interview journey. They are connected with ex-military employees who can talk about their own resettlement journey and advice on how best to showcase their military skills. Working alongside the veteran community, you will get help creating a ‘civilian-friendly’ CV, with tips about how to stand out in your job interview and general ongoing support every step of the way.
• Their internal Armed Forces network, with over 50 members, is led by Armed Forces Champion, Andrew Swingler. They hold a virtual meeting monthly and are launching a series of local meetings face to face. Members discuss topics relating to the Armed Forces community, how better to publicise the benefits they can bring to the company, how better to help further veterans join the company - and to aid others in the group to Expleo, particularly helping those in their first civilian roles adapt to corporate life.
• Understanding of the needs of military spouses, offering flexibility during deployments. 
• Veterans are assigned mentors from Expleo’s military community for guidance.
• Established reservist policies include 10 extra days of paid leave for training. Additional support, such as a six-month sabbatical for a deployed Commanding Officer, is also available.
• The 50+ member Armed Forces Group provides news, peer support, and insight into defence customers. 

Veteran Career Journeys  

Veterans, military spouses and reservists, with their unique transferable skills, would be well-suited in a range of roles available throughout Expleo. A number of veterans have made their mark in the business, including Steve Elce, a former Tank Commander, who is Expleo’s Head of Cyber. He says:

“Having individuals who have undergone the same journey from military life to a civilian career offers a sense of camaraderie and mutual understanding. We could relate to each other’s experiences, challenges, and the unique skills and perspectives we brought to the table.  This not only helped me feel understood and valued but also served as a reminder that the skills and experience gained in the military are truly valuable and transferable to the corporate world.  

“Expleo not only allows me to use the expertise I gained during my military service but also provides opportunities to continue to build upon these skills in a dynamic, fast-paced, and challenging environment. Military service has prepared you for this new journey in many ways. As you join Expleo, you bring with you a unique skill set and experiences that will make a significant contribution to the organisation.”

Robert Matthews, had an exemplary 25-year-service in the RAF and has been with Expleo for 12-years. He is heavily involved in the careers transition workshops supporting recruiters and attends workshops to highlight his journey at Expleo to the Armed Forces community.

He says:

You can hear about other veteran employees’ journeys here.

Would you like to find out more about how to begin your new career at Expleo? Explore their dedicated Armed Forces careers page here.