Serco has been named the UK’s top employer for veterans, reservists and military families in the 2026 GREAT British Employers of Veterans rankings, highlighting the growing importance of former Armed Forces personnel to the defence support workforce.
The international provider of critical government services secured first place in the annual ranking, which recognises organisations demonstrating sustained and measurable support for the Armed Forces community through recruitment, career development and workplace policies.
The accolade comes as competition for skilled defence personnel intensifies across the UK, with employers increasingly seeking to harness the leadership, technical expertise and operational experience of former military personnel.
A third of Serco’s global defence workforce are veterans and many reservists are working across its UK operations, making it one of the country's largest private-sector employers of ex-service personnel. The company was also among the first organisations to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in 2013, committing to ensure that members of the Armed Forces community are not disadvantaged in accessing employment and services.
The company's support package includes guaranteed interviews for eligible Armed Forces leavers and veterans, additional paid leave for reservist training and deployments, and partnerships with organisations including the Career Transition Partnership, Forces Transition Group, Forces Families Jobs and the White Ensign Association.
The recognition follows Serco's recent launch of its "Believe in People" social mobility campaign, which seeks to expand access to employment opportunities for groups that face barriers to work, including veterans, military families, ex-offenders and the long-term unemployed.
Fiona Walters, CEO of Serco UK & Europe, said the award reflected the organisation's long-standing relationship with the defence community.
"For more than six decades, Serco has worked alongside the UK Armed Forces delivering critical defence support services. Through that partnership, we have seen first-hand the exceptional skills, leadership and commitment that veterans bring to civilian careers," she said.
"Today, a third of our global defence workforce are veterans. We remain committed to creating opportunities for service leavers, reservists and military families, and we are delighted that this commitment has been recognised through the GREAT British Employers of Veterans rankings."
The judging panel for the rankings included representatives from major employers, academia and veteran support organisations, including Asda, Santander, Pantheon Ventures, Robert Walters, the University of Cambridge, the Standing Tall Foundation, the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance and the World Health Organization.
The award reinforces the growing role of veterans as a critical talent pipeline for the UK defence and government services sector, as employers seek experienced personnel capable of supporting increasingly complex national security and public service operations.