Dom Vieten, Executive Consultant on our Defence & Security team, reflects on the Security Cleared EXPO and the latest developments in the Defence industry.
This was our sixth year in attendance at the Security Cleared EXPO in Bristol and it was great to see a number of both familiar and new faces.
The Bristol event offers a relaxed atmosphere and a chance for us to network with everyone attending. Our conversations with clients made clear how there has been a vast increase in the need for both precision and speed in finding the right candidates; the Defence industry is particularly fast-paced due to regular new threats. Having made two recent additions to our growing Defence & Security team, and due to the team-basis of our service, we are in a strong position to continue offering a service that matches these increased requirements.
The national Defence budget was allocated an extra £16.5 billion from 2020/21 to 2024/25 which has seen a rise in both emerging start-ups and in established businesses expanding into the Defence industry. This development has been encouraged by the government in order to meet demand for the UK’s security requirements, and has meant a rapid pace for everyone in the sector over the last couple of years with no signs of slowing down. Due to the increase in business and resources, we saw a noticeable rise in the number of candidates attending the conference this year and in those taking an interest in available opportunities; our team registered two hundred new candidates from a variety of backgrounds.
A personal highlight of the event is speaking with those who are leaving the armed forces. This can be an uncertain time for them, with many having spent a long period of time serving our country. We build relationships with these candidates and speak to them over a number of weeks to provide insight and guidance as to what their next choice of career may be and help them to secure it. This year we met a number of those within the Royal Corps of Signals; the skills gained within the Signals are highly sought by Defence organisations, and our partnerships with both parties involved allows us to bridge the current gaps in skills.
I’m excited to be working on all these opportunities in what promises to be a fast-paced year, and look forward to meeting everyone again in 2024.
Should you wish to discuss your recruitment requirements, please contact Dom Vieten on 0117 930 8760 or email dvieten@venngroup.com