Revealed: The top 50 Forces-Friendly Employers of 2026

The 2026 Top 50 Great British Employers of Veterans highlights the organisations going beyond pledges and building real pathways for veterans, reservists and military families.

Every year, thousands of people leave the Armed Forces and ask the same question: which employers genuinely understand the true value of military skills and experience?

The Top 50 Great British Employers of Veterans, now in its fourth year and proudly sponsored by Troopr, aims to answer it. More than a badge or a public pledge, the list assesses what employers are actually doing to recruit, retain and support veterans, reservists and military families.

This year’s Top 50 have collectively recruited more than 44,000 veterans. Twenty-three organisations have appeared in the ranking every year since it launched, with their scores improving each time — a sign that long-term commitment is translating into stronger outcomes.

The ranking is built on evidence rather than self-certification. Employers are assessed on veteran recruitment and retention, reservist leave, spouse support and wider workplace culture, with final rankings decided by an independent judging panel made up of veterans with lived experience of transition.

At the top of this year’s list is Serco, followed by BAE Systems, with Babcock and Company X Consulting sharing third place. What unites the highest-performing organisations is not simply that they hire veterans, but that they treat military talent as a strategic asset rather than a corporate responsibility exercise.

For some employers, that means building recruitment around the Armed Forces community. Serco reported veteran retention of 76%, compared with 71% across its wider workforce. BAE Systems received more than 6,000 applications from veterans for experienced roles last year and reported a veteran outflow rate of just 0.2%. Babcock hired 1,195 Armed Forces community members in a single financial year, while Carbon60 recorded a veteran retention rate of 98%.

Elsewhere, employers are investing in structured pathways to help service leavers build long-term civilian careers. Bombardier Services UK runs a Military Fast Track Programme with a one-year veteran retention rate of 98%, while John Deere UK has developed a Military Hiring Programme that combines structured training, mentoring and technical development, helping deliver 100% veteran retention.

The best-performing employers are also looking beyond veterans alone. Support for reservists and military families is increasingly a marker of what good looks like. Inzpire offers 15 days of additional paid leave for reservists, can offer roles up to a year before discharge, and provides uncapped paid leave for military spouses during deployment. VodafoneThree introduced 16 days of paid reservist leave this year, while MBDA UK combines additional reservist leave with a transition scheme that moved five of six participants into permanent roles last year.

Other organisations are widening that support further. Mott MacDonald offers flexible leave around deployments, relocation options linked to postings and career breaks of up to three years, while also encouraging employees with no prior service experience to join the Reserve or Cadet forces.

Taken together, the Top 50 offers a picture of how veteran employment is maturing in the UK. The strongest organisations are not relying on broad statements of support; they are building measurable policies, structured routes into employment and long-term support that helps veterans, reservists and military families thrive.

1st. Serco
2nd. BAE Systems
Joint 3rd. Babcock
Joint 3rd. Company X Consulting
5th. Amethyst Risk Management
6th. Bombardier Services UK
7th. Landmarc Support Services
8th. Inzpire
9th. VIVO Defence Services
10th. Avove Utilities
11th. Carbon60
12th. Calian UK
13th. SA Group
14th. MBDA UK
15th. John Deere UK
Joint 16th. FDM Group
Joint 16th. Thanos Renewables
18th. VodafoneThree
19th. M&C Saatchi World Services
20th. Galliford Try
21st. SUEZ in the UK
22nd. Microsoft
23rd. Balfour Beatty
Joint 24th. AtkinsRéalis
Joint 24th. CSPM
26th. Mott MacDonald
27th. AAA Caring Caretaker
28th. Ascent Flight Training
29th. GXO Logistics
Joint 30th. Leonardo UK
Joint 30th. Lloyd’s
Joint 32nd. Kuehne+Nagel
Joint 32nd. M Group
Joint 32nd. Northrop Grumman UK
35th. Morson Group
Joint 36th. Digital Realty
Joint 36th. United Infrastructure
Joint 38th. NHS Scotland
Joint 38th. QA
40th. Northumbria University
41st. Mitie
42nd. Leidos
Joint 43rd. Engage Technical Solutions
Joint 43rd. Royal British Veterans Enterprise
Joint 43rd. Siemens Mobility
Joint 46th. SP Energy Networks
Joint 46th. Veolia UK
48th. British Airways
49th. Compass Group UK & Ireland
50th. Airbus