Military minds have plenty to offer the housebuilding industry

- 08 Sep 16

To mark our support for Reserves Day (8 September), Bovis Homes Head of Talent Roger Morton, himself a former Royal Engineer, looks at what part-time and ex-service personnel can bring to the construction industry and how the private sector can support reservists.

I joined Bovis Homes in June 2016, after more than two decades in the British Army, where I led various organisations, the largest of which was 300 military and 150 civilian staff, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

My role at Bovis Homes is to look after our staff's personal development, and make sure all of the great people that work for the business have the tools required to make the most of their talent and add as much value as possible to the business. I'm also responsible for ensuring the company meets its obligations regarding Health and Safety.

The company has a number of staff who are active reservists and Reserves Day is a great way to celebrate the commitment they make to our country in their spare time, and also the skills and characteristics they bring back from their service to their day jobs.

House building is fast-paced and requires attention to detail and dedication. The key skills for the sector, like staying calm under pressure, being disciplined and punctual, and having strong organisational skills are second nature to Forces personnel. So too are the ability to prioritise tasks, to communicate quickly and clearly and identify risks and effectively manage them.

There are also clear links between the core values of Bovis Homes - integrity, care and quality - and the three Services' expectations for respect, excellence and integrity from those who serve in them.

Knowing first-hand what military trained people have to offer, I was delighted to find when I started here, that Bovis Homes is committed to providing its staff who are active Reserves with the support they need to complete their service. While this requires an investment from the company in terms of flexibility and additional leave, we know that upon their return from duty, these staff members have always gained experience and skills that will serve them well in their day jobs.

As well as proudly supporting our Reserves, my team is also looking to develop our work with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP), which provides resettlement services for those leaving the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.

Through working with the CTP, we bring ex-service personnel into the business to work as assistant site managers on our developments. Many of these have then gone on to secure site manager roles, or moved into other areas of the business such as Health and Safety.

While today is about recognising the great work of our Reserves, we will continue to develop new ways of supporting our friends in the Armed Forces- from those looking for new careers, to those looking for new homes. Keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook pages today and over the next few weeks to discover how.