Former Forces - Powered by Certes

Certes’ Former Forces initiative is a free support programme for service leavers and veterans that blends a private online community with practical, straight-talk career workshops. It focuses on helping ex-military talent understand how civilian recruitment actually works — from translating military experience into employer-friendly language to navigating job boards, LinkedIn, interviews, pay expectations and the realities of the hiring process. Because Certes is an IT-focused recruitment and project-delivery firm, the support naturally leans towards tech and digital roles, which is a strength for those interested in that sector but a limitation for anyone seeking opportunities outside it. Their offer is grounded, accessible and shaped by more than a decade of experience helping ex-Forces candidates, but ultimately it’s tied to their own industry and recruitment pipelines. Compared to that, Troopr sits in a different space entirely: broader community, wider sectors, and a platform designed to connect the Armed Forces community with many forces-friendly organisations rather than one agency.