UK

Jobs offered to 160 unemployed Gurkhas

A recruitment company for those leaving the services is to offer jobs to 160 Gurkhas following government cuts in their numbers.

ForceSelect has signed a deal with Gallowglass, to provide crew members for a wide range of public and corporate events.

The MoD announced 4,200 job cuts in a second round of armed forces redundancies as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review, with 400 being made redundant from the Gurkhas, the equivalent to almost an entire battalion.

ForceSelect will provide 35-50 crew members a month to work with Gallowglass across the UK.

ForceSelect founder Hugh Andrée said: “Despite the stories of doom and gloom and the very valid concerns of military personnel who are now facing redundancy, there are a lot of opportunities for service leavers who want to start a new career.

“Our agreement with Gallowglass is tremendous news and demonstrates that there is work available for those who aren't afraid of some hard graft. After the cuts announced recently, I believe the Gurkhas will make perfect crew members for Gallowglass.”

Gallowglass Managing Director, Nick Grecian, is delighted to be able to support British service leavers.

Mr Grecian said: “Our company ethos is built around teamwork and discipline with plenty of outdoor activity. With government cuts making redundancies in the forces, we are delighted to be able to offer relevant employment and long-term career prospects to a much-valued group of people with highly transferrable skills.

“We are heavily recruiting at the moment, as the London 2012 Olympics, coupled with our existing schedule of events, will demand large numbers of skilled crew personnel. But this initiative has a longer term shelf-life beyond the mid-year activity spike. We are confident that post-Olympics we’ll be able to redeploy many of these crew members throughout the Gallowglass group of companies.”

Peter Carroll, founder of the Gurkha Justice Campaign added: “Having worked and lived alongside the Gurkha community for many years I know that they are truly remarkable. They have a work ethic and team spirit second to none and they combine these attributes with a great warmth and humour. I wholeheartedly support ForceSelect in their attempts to place these fine people into work as they cope with leaving the Army. Further, as an ex serviceman myself I fully support all the work that ForceSelect is doing to help find work for all service leavers.”