Travis Perkins

As the UK's largest building materials distributor, Travis Perkins partners with the construction industry to supply trade customers in building, repair and infrastructure. With over 200 years' history and 20,000 employees including 142 veterans, Travis Perkins signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2017 to support service leavers' transition.

The group welcomes veterans' transferable skills and shared values like integrity and teamwork. Engaging talent from diverse sources, including forces leavers, helps Travis Perkins better reflect its communities. Initiatives like attending CTP fairs, placements and networking help veterans secure roles. Since 2015, over 600 have joined in operations, support functions and management.

With little industry experience needed, Travis Perkins focuses on transferable skills and willingness to learn. Roles suiting service leavers range from driving and warehousing to customer-facing and office support across branches and distribution. Benefits include discounts, cashback and recognition rewards. Work patterns vary from office hours in branches to shifts in warehouses, with hybrid working offered where possible.

Reservists get additional leave for training, and deployed staff and families receive support. Spouses/dependents of serving personnel can access flexible vacancies near bases, with relocation support when posted. As a Gold Employer Recognition Scheme holder, Travis Perkins partners with the Poppy Factory to help overcome barriers to employing veterans with health conditions.

The ex-forces community meets regularly to support each other and local cadets, inviting them to store openings and youth initiatives. With over 1000 apprenticeships and training programmes, Travis Perkins provides career development for upskilling and new perspectives.

Veterans' forces-honed skills and experience continue to bring value in diverse roles across Travis Perkins’ businesses. The group’s tailored engagement, networking and training empower service leavers to transition their expertise to construction careers and build community connections. The company ethos of inclusion and support provides a rewarding destination for forces leavers to grow.

In summary, Travis Perkins has a well-established programme to welcome veterans and enable their skills transfer to construction industry roles nationwide. Supportive initiatives and community networks ease transition to civilian work. Veterans continue to strengthen Travis Perkins with their forces-honed transferable skills, diverse capabilities and shared values.