The recent award of the UK Armed Forces Recruitment Service (AFRS) contract to a Serco-led team has got people talking, not just about how we’ll recruit soldiers in the future, but also what it means for jobs here in the UK.
While everyone’s keen to see improvements to military recruitment, there’s a real question mark over how many of the jobs created will actually be based in the UK. Looking at the companies involved in “TEAM Serco” gives us a few clues, but it’s not the whole story.
Serco
Serco, as the main contractor, will be running the whole show, from sorting out the new systems to giving career advice and managing the estate. This definitely means jobs here in the UK. But, because there are so many international companies involved, it’s a bit more complicated than that.
Pega
Pega, which is in charge of the digital platform, is a good example. They’re a big global company, but they’ve already worked on recruitment systems for the RAF and Royal Navy, which suggests they’ve got people here already and will probably need more. Their job adverts, even though they’re for all over the world, do show they’re in the UK, so some development and support roles should be here. But exactly how many UK jobs are directly linked to this contract is still up in the air. It’s looking like more jobs will be created in the US and other overseas markets based on their current job listings.
Adecco
Then there’s Adecco, a massive global recruitment firm. They’ve got offices everywhere, so while they’ve got loads of experience in public sector recruitment – they even do it for the Australian Defence Force – it’s hard to know how much of their work for the UK military will actually be done in Britain. They’re definitely here, but how they divide their work globally is anyone’s guess. Akkodis, their tech arm, who specialise in talent management, makes it even more confusing. They’ve helped the Ministry of Defence before, but their global reach means jobs could be anywhere.
TMP
TMP, the UK recruitment marketing agency, are a good sign for British jobs. Because they focus on marketing campaigns here in the UK, it seems likely the jobs they create will be based here. Optima Health, who do employee health checks, are another one that looks promising. They’re a big UK company, so they’ll almost certainly use their existing teams and offices for this.
MPCT
MPCT, who train people for careers in the Armed Forces, are also very UK-focused. Their training centres and instructors are all here, which is good news for jobs.
PA Consulting
PA Consulting, while they’re global too, has a strong presence in UK defence. So, their involvement should mean consulting jobs based here.
So, where does that leave UK job creation?
News of government defence contracts is coming at a time when Andrew Bailey, the Bank of England’s Governor has warned that Britain’s bloated public sector is dragging down the economy slashing its 2025 growth forecasts in half.
According to news reports, the Governor said an increase of half a million workers in the public sector since lockdown had not been matched by a rise in productivity. His views come after civil servants threatened to strike over demands that they return to the office for two days a week.
Just weeks before, the government awarded a £9 billion contract to British firm Rolls-Royce to support the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet. The deal, dubbed ‘Unity’, will not only boost national security but provide a significant boost to the UK economy, said a government statement.
The contract will last eight years and secure 5,000 jobs across the UK, including 1,000 new roles. It will also ensure the continued maintenance and development of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said of the contract: “This investment in Britain’s defence will deliver a long-term boost to British business, jobs and national security.” He added that the deal with Rolls-Royce, “a historic British success story,” will support high-skilled UK jobs and ensure the safety of the nation.
The Serco contract, however, is a bit of a mixed bag. Things like estate management, health checks, training, and marketing are clearly good for UK jobs. But the big international tech and recruitment companies make things less clear. They’re here, but because they work all over the world, it’s hard to say how many UK jobs will come directly from this contract.
It would be much better if we had more information about where these companies plan to base their staff working on this project. Then we’d have a much clearer picture of what it means for jobs here at home.
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