An informal mentor system, recognition of qualifications from non-UK nationals and further support for the families of serving personnel are among several recommendations made by a new report looking at the transition of veterans and their families to civilian life in Scotland.

Funded by Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT), led by Edinburgh Napier University’s Centre for Military Research, Education & Public Engagement and supported by the Edinburgh Futures Institute at the University of Edinburgh, the report is the first of its kind to look at the journey from military to civilian life specifically in Scotland.

The report includes input from nearly 100 service personnel, 200 veterans and more than 60 employers with its findings unveiled today (15 June) at a special event at Edinburgh Napier’s Craiglockhart campus with Veterans Minister Graeme Dey MSP, project partners and members of the wider armed forces community.

Through a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies – including three online surveys and 138 in-depth interviews, participant observation and validation workshops – the report outlines findings across five key components of transition:

• Time and timing – The study found that time to prepare is the resource most valued by those undergoing any type of transition and that this can vary from individual to individual;
• Values and behaviours – Many veterans inclined towards employment that most reflects the values and behaviours instilled in them during service;
• Comfort zones – A need to support veterans and their families as they move out of their comfort zone, with a focus on the emotional aspect of transition.
• Engagements – A continued focus on effective partnership working helps transition to be as smooth and effective as possible;
• Expectations and decision-making – A need to manage expectations and help with decision-making. Many veterans reported that they could not have understood what civilian life was like until they experienced it, so it was difficult to prepare adequately.

With these findings in mind, the report has made a host of recommendations across four key areas: policy, practice, education, and research.

These include the adoption of mentorship and buddy schemes to help veterans ‘speak civilian’, the development of Welfare Centres to become central points for education and entrepreneurial activity for armed forces partners, the further development of an educational transition pathway for those wishing to continue to higher education as well as recognition of prior learning qualifications for Commonwealth partners.

The report also highlights the demand for support services to be expanded to support the wider armed forces community, with particular emphasis on partners and children.

Alongside the recommendations, the study recognises strong partnership working alongside the important contribution of programmes such as the Armed Forces Covenant and the UK and Scotland strategies for veterans in developing a clear focus in relation to transition. 

The veterans population in Scotland is estimated to be around 240,000 with an additional 1,800 ex-service personnel and families planning to settle in Scotland every year.

It is hoped that the findings of this report can now be used to influence and shape both policy and service delivery to enable veterans and their families to lead successful civilian lives.

Graeme Dey, Minister for Veterans, said: “It is really important that we understand the challenges faced by our Service people as they transition to civilian life in Scotland. Despite most Service leavers transitioning successfully, getting a suitable job, a safe, warm home, and access to appropriate healthcare, we are all too aware that some veterans can face greater difficulties when they leave the military. This report gives us a better understanding of their experiences, which will help inform policy decisions and work towards improving the services and support available to them when they transition to civilian life.”

Tom McBarnet, Chief Executive of Forces in Mind Trust, said: “This report provides us with an in-depth understanding of the experiences of personnel and their families who transition from the Armed Forces and settle in Scotland, and highlights both the significant progress made as well as the challenges and disadvantages they can face, particularly when moving from other parts of the UK to Scotland.

“This research provides policy makers, service providers and others with the evidence they need to be able to make informed decisions and implement effective interventions to support the Armed Forces Community both now and in the future.”

Professor Gerri Matthews-Smith, Associate Research Professor and Director of the Centre for Military Research, Education and Public Engagement within Edinburgh Napier University’s Business School, said: “I was delighted to lead this valuable and timely study to contribute to the growing evidence base influencing and underpinning policy making and service delivery to enable veterans and their families to lead successful civilian lives in Scotland and across the UK.

“The Armed Forces pride themselves on being composed of highly competent, professional, confident individuals who are resourceful, adaptable, problem solvers. The question is therefore immediately created as to why transition should be regarded as such a significant issue of concern for this group in comparison to their civilian counterparts. The complexity of the transition journey is addressed in this study through a deeper comparison of life in the Armed Forces with that in the wider community when viewed through the lens of the service leaver, their partner, and other key stakeholders. The report provides a detailed account of the Armed Forces milieu in Scotland set against developments and future plans for the expansion of several bases across the country. It acknowledges good practice and provides a number of recommendations on how some areas may be developed.”

Lt Col Doug Mackay, who was the Project Director while at Edinburgh Futures Institute, University of Edinburgh, said: “Service personnel genuinely serve the country, whether defending our national interests overseas or supporting resilience within communities at home in time of crisis. It is fitting that we should take some time to focus on how we can help them transition from military life, and I am delighted to have had the opportunity to work with both the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University on this important project. It offers some fresh perspectives on the challenges facing service personnel and families who settle in Scotland, assesses the existing support available to them, and provides some thought-provoking suggestions about how to improve the experience of transition for future service leavers.

“We are most grateful to the Forces in Mind Trust for their generous support of this project.”

Download the full report here >

Watch interview below with Veterans Minister Graeme Dey MSP, from when he visited Edinburgh Napier University for the launch of ENU-led report: