Marching Towards Inclusivity: Bridging the Gap Between the Armed Forces and Society

With little sign that the UK’s global commitments will abate in the future, maintaining an operationally effective sized and skilled Armed Force is an issue increasingly pushing its way into national consciousness. Fresh thinking to long-standing challenges is required as a matter of urgency.

The Serco Institute’s latest report, Marching Towards Inclusivity: Bridging the Gap Between the Armed Forces and Society, provides insight from senior experts from across defence, academia and the wider defence enterprise to meet these challenges.

In the context of a shrinking UK-wide workforce and an evolving skillset required for modern warfare, the report identifies the need for the Armed Forces to attract a wider pool of talent. Those convened by the Institute agreed that diversity should be regarded as a strategic advantage, helping the UK Armed Forces to achieve optimal operational capability, avoiding groupthink and fostering a culture of reasonable challenge. 

To achieve this, the report makes a number of recommendations, including:

1. Learning from global allies: Drawing lessons from the recruitment practices of allied nations, experts stressed the importance of learning from global best practices and embracing innovative approaches that have proven successful elsewhere, for example the promise in Australia of a retention bonus for recruits as well as a gap year programme.
2. Creative recruitment strategies: With the landscape of military service evolving rapidly, experts emphasised the need for creative recruitment strategies that resonate better with the aspirations and values of the next generation – including opportunities for adventure, meaningful work and paid education and skills.
3. Flexible workplace policies: As societal expectations around work-life balance and career flexibility continue to evolve, the report highlights the need for the Armed Forces to adopt flexible workplace policies that accommodate the diverse needs of service members.
4. Digital engagement: experts stressed the impact of influences like family, friends, and social media on young people's perceptions of military service. They highlighted the need to harness technology, including AI, to reach new audiences and maintain engagement throughout the recruitment process.

This paper is the first in a series delving into issues related to people in the Armed Forces. The Serco Institute will be holding further discussions with industry experts in the coming weeks to identify innovative thinking on broadening the pool of talent accessible to the UK Armed Forces.