Royal Navy veteran Graeme Forster sampled roles across Esh Group on a 16-day Soldiers to Site placement as he considers a switch to construction.

With his 22-year career in the Royal Navy due to end in October, Graeme Forster has been exploring a future in construction through Esh Group's bespoke Soldiers to Site initiative, which supports service leavers transitioning to civilian employment.

Across 16 days, Forster rotated through Health & Safety, Project Management, Planning and Fleet, gaining hands-on, flexible experience designed to help him translate military-honed skills into an industry setting.

Graeme Forster said: "My journey in the Royal Navy began back in 2004 when I trained as what was then known as a Naval Airman, and is now known as a Survival Equipment Technician. My responsibilities included maintaining lifesaving equipment such as aircrew helmets, immersion suits and emergency beacons. Now, I work with the aircrew at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton, looking after the maintenance of aircraft fit and personal issue equipment."

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He added: "I initially joined the Navy to give me the chance to travel and see parts of the world that you wouldn't usually get to see, however after my contract ended and I was offered an extra five years of service, I decided that – with two young children at home – now was the right time to conclude my service."

Forster discovered the programme via the Career Transition Partnership and was drawn to the challenge of a new sector. Being from Esh Winning, he said the local connection and Esh's reputation also stood out. "I came across the programme on the Career Transition Partnership website when I started my resettlement, and the construction industry felt like an exciting next step to begin my new journey, as it's different to anything I've ever done before, and the challenge seemed appealing."

Reflecting on his placement, Forster said the variety across divisions was a highlight and confirmed his interest in a construction career. He observed planning work behind large civil engineering schemes such as Stockton Waterfront and spent time with Esh-Stantec at Tursdale learning about Sewer Network Improvements, gaining insight into project management and how decisions shape overall delivery.

Offering advice to fellow service leavers, he said: "To any service leavers looking for a change in career, I would highly recommend taking part in a programme like this. The Soldiers to Site programme has given me a genuine understanding of what a career in the construction industry really looks like, and it's great to see businesses like Esh investing in the futures of military personnel as they return to civilian life."

Esh Group says it is a proud Armed Forces Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Covenant holder and is committed to setting an example across the industry in supporting ex-services personnel and helping the sector thrive. More information about its Armed Forces support can be found at www.eshgroup.co.uk/join-us/armed-forces