Supporting our Service Communities

At Thales , support for the Service Community runs deep within the organisation's culture. In September 2014, Thales was among the first companies to sign the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant (AFCC), formalising our commitment to honour the wider Service Community.

This commitment has become stronger over the years, with Thales being recognised in 2019 – and again in 2024 – as the gold standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. For us, it’s proof of the difference we’re making in the lives of those who’ve served their country.

Our Service Community Careers programme provides meaningful work opportunities for service personnel, veterans, and their families. Understanding that military careers develop unique skills and perspectives, we’ve created specialised routes into employment designed specifically for the service community.

These include holding events that help service leavers understand how their skills can transfer to roles in Thales. And through strategic partnerships with the Career Transition Partnership, Forces Families Jobs, and Morson Forces, Thales offers numerous options for service leavers to carry on serving the nation's defence interests in a supportive civilian environment.

What makes these pathways really valuable are the breadth of opportunities they provide. Service leavers can grow their careers in many directions, from traditional defence roles to cutting-edge fields like space technology and digital industries.

We also work with the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) employment support programme – Lifeworks Veteran Employment Support | Lifeworks. This charity equips veterans and family members with the tools they need to find meaningful employment outside the Armed Forces. From employment advice or information on career pathways, to confidence courses and CV writing, Lifeworks supports people into the civilian job market through extra training or by helping them secure a role suited to their skillset. Our Armed Forces Network volunteers at Lifeworks workshops also conduct mock interviews and provide feedback on CVs.

The transition to civilian life involves more than just finding new employment. It requires holistic support for veterans' overall wellbeing. To this end, we’ve formed a significant partnership with leading veterans' charity Combat Stress to raise awareness of the benefits that veterans bring to the workplace and to develop effective ways to support their mental health.

This partnership led to the creation of the annual Military Mind Symposium in 2022 to explore how companies can provide better mental health support for veterans. Thales is proud to sponsor this important event as it provides valuable insights into how to address the complete spectrum of veterans' needs.

We work to create an inclusive workplace for veterans, recognising their unique perspectives, skills and contributions in the workplace. Our internal Armed Forces Network provides support throughout the UK and across the Thales Group, making sure veterans have the dedicated resources they need to integrate into civilian work life.

Our long-standing relationship with the RAF Benevolent Fund reflects our century-long heritage of working with the RAF. And in 2023, we were awarded 'Outstanding Support from an Organisation' at the RAF Benevolent Fund Awards ceremony, recognising 20 years of financial support to the Fund from the Thales Charitable Trust.
As noted during the award ceremony: "Being able to count on supporters from industry, in a long-term partnership, is key to ensuring the RAF Benevolent Fund can continue to be there for the RAF family, and Thales is proud to play its part."

Thales in the UK is the lead sponsor for the annual Veterans Awards across all four home nations. The Veterans Awards is a not-for-profit organisation that positively promotes the Veteran Community and organisations that support it. It's been put together by veterans for veterans and has become the home nations national awards – with four separate ceremonies taking place in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Any money above and beyond costs is distributed via a small grants scheme to smaller CIC's and charities who work at grass-roots level in the veterans’ community and have a turnover of under £100k a year.

The UK has numerous highly successful Armed Forces veterans who’ve made the transition from military to civilian life and these awards recognise, reward and celebrate those who’ve gone above and beyond and excelled in their relevant fields – even during very difficult times. 

As we grow our support for the Service Community, we’re focusing on expanding the scope of our initiatives to be even more inclusive. Plans include reframing language to refer more broadly to the 'Service Community' rather than just the Armed Forces, acknowledging the important roles played by families and support networks.

Thales is committed to always improving its programmes based on feedback from our Service Community, ensuring that support remains relevant and effective as the needs of the community evolve.

We recognise the immense value that veterans, reservists, service families and cadet volunteers bring in terms of expertise, experience, customer relationships, and innovative thinking. And it’s essential we provide them with the opportunities and support they deserve as they continue their service to society in civilian roles.

To learn more about Thales in the UK’s commitments and opportunities for the Service Community, email ArmedForcesNetwork@uk.thalesgroup.com or visit the Thales Armed Forces Community web page.