How we support our employees with military connections
Wiltshire has a long association with the military and as of 2020 Salisbury Plain is the Army's largest training area in the UK. Wiltshire Council has always supported and fostered good relations with the military and as such, we are keen to recruit those with military connections. Please browse the page below to see the support we offer.
Reservists and Cadet Instructors
We give our Reservists and Cadet Instructors two extra weeks’ paid leave a year to attend annual training camp. In addition, staff can purchase an additional 10 days’ leave per year. We offer flexible working practices and staff can also apply for unpaid leave.
Families - spouses / partners and children
We realise that partners and dependents of service personnel have had to move frequently, which combined with childcare responsibilities can make finding work or getting back into the workplace hard.
To overcome this, we offer a wide variety of roles and working patterns, including:
- Flexible working practices and policies including flexi-time, part-time work, term-time hours, annualised hours or compressed hours.
- The opportunity to work from home or from one of our other offices.
- Voluntary positions - to help gain valuable experience and confidence.
- Apprenticeships - ranging from level two (similar level to GCSEs, therefore appropriate for younger family members) to level five (similar level to HND/beginning of undergraduate degree), which are excellent ways to start, change or develop your career.
Browse the boxes below to see what else we offer.
We hope the information contained on this page will encourage you to browse our vacancies.
The Armed Forces Network
The Armed Forces Network is a newly formed employee network that provides support and advice to staff members who have military connections, including veterans, reservists, and their families. The network is one of many staff networks that Wiltshire Council has established to promote diversity, inclusion, and equality in the workplace. The Armed Forces Network is committed to raising awareness of the unique challenges faced by the armed forces community and to promoting a supportive and inclusive working environment for all staff. If you would like more information, you can contact the network at ArmedForcesNetwork@wiltshire.gov.uk.
Our EPIC Values
Leadership
You lead by example through your behaviours and professional approach to work; inspiring your colleagues and driving for results.
| Military spouse / partner social group | Resettlement careers events | HR policies | Armed Forces Day and Reserves Day | The Enterprise Network |
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We have set up a virtual social group for military spouses / partners who work for Wiltshire Council to join and connect with each other. This group organises face-to-face meetings, as well as providing a forum to share ideas, network and provide feedback on how we can make our policies more military friendly.
We support and participate in the South West Transition Fair where businesses and service providers offer advice and support to service personnel planning their futures following their military career. The event is free to attend and open to all service personnel & their families, as well as service leavers.
We support British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) events which are attended by serving military personnel, veterans, reserve forces and family members. These events help those looking for a new role, considering retraining and gaining qualifications or considering self-employment opportunities.
We have a specific HR policy for Reservists & cadet instructors providing two weeks’ paid leave for training camp. All staff can purchase 10 days leave per year on top of their standard leave. We operate flexible working and a flexi-time scheme to accommodate staff commitments. Staff can also apply for unpaid leave.
We support Armed Forces Day and Reserves Day. As part of these celebrations, we encourage all our Reservists to attend work in their military uniform. We also support and attend a number of events across the county at this time.
The Enterprise Network (TEN) is a Wiltshire Council initiative to help individuals considering starting a business or, having started one, need access to business premises. It has a particular focus on current and former military personnel and their spouses.
TEN offers advice, modern business premises with flexible leases, workshops and networking opportunities which enables those that engage with us to gain the skills and expertise to run a successful business. It has excellent links with the military community which helps us to notify them of any relevant events.
TEN is proud and delighted to support the military community in Wiltshire and beyond.
We have set up a virtual social group for military spouses / partners who work for Wiltshire Council to join and connect with each other. This group organises face-to-face meetings, as well as providing a forum to share ideas, network and provide feedback on how we can make our policies more military friendly.
We support and participate in the South West Transition Fair where businesses and service providers offer advice and support to service personnel planning their futures following their military career. The event is free to attend and open to all service personnel & their families, as well as service leavers.
We support British Forces Resettlement Services (BFRS) events which are attended by serving military personnel, veterans, reserve forces and family members. These events help those looking for a new role, considering retraining and gaining qualifications or considering self-employment opportunities.
We have a specific HR policy for Reservists & cadet instructors providing two weeks’ paid leave for training camp. All staff can purchase 10 days leave per year on top of their standard leave. We operate flexible working and a flexi-time scheme to accommodate staff commitments. Staff can also apply for unpaid leave.
We support Armed Forces Day and Reserves Day. As part of these celebrations, we encourage all our Reservists to attend work in their military uniform. We also support and attend a number of events across the county at this time.
The Enterprise Network (TEN) is a Wiltshire Council initiative to help individuals considering starting a business or, having started one, need access to business premises. It has a particular focus on current and former military personnel and their spouses.
TEN offers advice, modern business premises with flexible leases, workshops and networking opportunities which enables those that engage with us to gain the skills and expertise to run a successful business. It has excellent links with the military community which helps us to notify them of any relevant events.
TEN is proud and delighted to support the military community in Wiltshire and beyond.
Wiltshire facts
Wiltshire Council was created in 2009 as a unitary authority by bringing together the previous district and county councils.
We’re one of the county’s largest employers: a workforce of about 5,000, not including our schools workforce, serving a population of 474,300.
Care experienced young people can apply for internal job opportunities and are guaranteed an interview if they meet the minimum criteria.
We’ve put decision making in the heart of the community, through 18 local area boards.
Our teams work creatively in partnership with the NHS, police, fire and rescue, and community groups.
According to national crime statistics, Wiltshire is the second safest place to live in the country.
Our EPIC Values of Excellence, Responsibility and Trust and Respect underpin everything we do.
In 2014, the council doubled its highways maintenance budget, adding an extra £53 million over the next five years for road improvements on 2,728 miles of roads.
In the latest staff survey, 73% of staff said there was a community focused culture which is a very positive message and reflects the Council’s vision to create stronger communities.
Around half of the 225,000 tonnes of household waste collected each year in Wiltshire is recycled.
We have 21 leisure centres, 30 libraries and two mobile libraries.
We have been named best council to work for in Britain by Glassdoor.
We spend £900 million each year, providing 354 services to the people of Wiltshire.
Between 2012 and 2016 there was a rise of 7% in the number of "fully engaged staff” and a reduction in those whose responses show them to be fully disengaged.
We’re investing nearly £80 million in our innovative and award winning community campus programme to bring improved facilities and services to local communities.
