From Service to Support: Veterans Returning to Help the Next Generation Build Civilian Careers

For many service leavers, the transition from military life to civilian employment can feel uncertain. Across Building Heroes academies, graduates, volunteers and industry partners are helping make that journey easier : sharing their experiences, offering guidance and supporting the next generation of veterans as they begin new careers.

At Building Heroes, completing a training programme is not the end of the journey. For many learners, it marks the beginning of a new relationship with the wider Building Heroes community.

Across our academies, former learners, industry professionals and employer partners regularly return to support new cohorts as volunteer mentors. By sharing their own experiences of leaving the Armed Forces and building civilian careers, they help those currently preparing to transition see what is possible beyond service.

Through the Building Heroes Volunteer Empowerment Initiative, supported by the Veterans’ Foundation, these volunteers play a vital role in strengthening the sense of community that surrounds our training programmes.

Their involvement helps learners better understand how the skills developed during military service translate into opportunities within the construction industry and wider civilian workforce.

Learning from Those Who Have Walked the Path

Transitioning from military life into civilian employment can feel uncertain. For many service leavers, hearing from someone who has already made that journey provides reassurance, perspective and confidence.

Volunteer mentors often return to academies to speak with current learners about their own experiences — from preparing for interviews and adapting to civilian workplaces to launching their own businesses within the construction sector.

These conversations give learners the opportunity to ask honest questions and gain practical insight into the realities of life after service.

“Hearing from someone who had already left the forces and gone through the same process made a huge difference. It helped me realise that the skills we have in the military really do transfer into civilian jobs.”

For many learners, hearing directly from fellow veterans who have successfully transitioned helps transform uncertainty into confidence.

From Service to Self-Employment

For some graduates, the journey after Building Heroes leads to entrepreneurship.

Phil Duke served for 15 years in the Army Light Dragoons before beginning to explore opportunities in the construction sector as he prepared to transition from military life.

After enrolling on a Building Heroes training programme, Phil quickly recognised how the qualities developed during his time in the Armed Forces, discipline, attention to detail and pride in doing a job well, translated directly into construction work.

Following his training, Phil went on to establish FastFix Joinery, a growing business that now supports multiple projects and has created opportunities for others within the industry.

“Building Heroes offered structure, support and a path into a new industry at a time when I really needed guidance.”

Stories like Phil’s demonstrate how the mindset and work ethic developed in the Armed Forces can form the foundations of successful civilian careers.

Building Confidence for the Next Chapter

Chris Grubb’s story reflects another pathway many veterans take after completing their training.

After more than two decades of military service, Chris joined the Building Heroes Construction Multi-Skills programme as he prepared for civilian life.

The programme helped him develop practical construction skills while also building the confidence to start something new. After graduating, Chris launched his own handyman business - a venture that continues to grow.

Chris credits the programme with helping him recognise the strong alignment between the qualities developed in military service and those valued in the construction industry.

“Building Heroes made me realise the military and building trade go hand in hand - hardworking, disciplined, integrity, loyalty and good communication.”

Giving Back to the Next Cohort

Many graduates choose to return to Building Heroes academies after establishing themselves in civilian life, offering encouragement and advice to learners currently preparing for their own transition.

For volunteers, mentoring provides an opportunity to give something back to the community that supported them during their own journey.

“Returning as a volunteer mentor is incredibly rewarding. When I left the military the transition felt daunting, but Building Heroes helped me find my path. Being able to share that experience with others who are about to leave service means a lot to me.”

These peer-led conversations often have a powerful impact. Learners frequently describe how hearing real experiences from fellow veterans helps them recognise the value of the skills they bring from their time in service.

Supported by Industry and Employer Partners

Alongside returning graduates, many Building Heroes employer partners also contribute their time and expertise to support learners.

Professionals from across the construction and built environment sectors regularly visit academies to share their own career journeys, provide industry insight and offer practical advice on entering the civilian workforce.

These engagements help learners better understand the opportunities available within the sector and create valuable connections with employers who recognise the strengths and capabilities veterans bring to the industry.

A Community That Extends Beyond the Classroom

Volunteering has become an important part of the Building Heroes community.

For many veterans, mentoring provides an opportunity to remain connected with the Armed Forces community while supporting others undertaking the same journey.

Across the academies, informal mentoring relationships and “buddy” support networks often develop between graduates and current learners. These connections frequently continue long after programmes have finished, helping individuals navigate the early stages of civilian life and build confidence in their new careers.

Supported by the Veterans’ Foundation

The continued development of the Building Heroes Volunteer Empowerment Initiative has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Veterans’ Foundation. Their support enables Building Heroes to strengthen the network of volunteers who help guide service leavers through one of the most important transitions of their lives.

Together, these mentors, graduates, volunteers and employer partners are helping ensure that those leaving military service do not make the journey into civilian life alone. Instead, they become part of a community that continues to support, encourage and inspire long after the training programme has finished.

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