Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the Armed Forces Recruiting Programme.

The Armed Forces Recruiting Service contract with Serco commenced on 1 April 2025, with full unification of recruitment being implemented by October 2027, replacing separate schemes for the Royal Navy, Army, and RAF. This will create a streamlined, accessible single-entry point to attract diverse talent and modernise recruitment - making it faster and simpler.

Between the contract start and full implementation in October 2027, we are in a funded discovery phase involving development, testing, and configuration, supported by the Single Services to ensure a smooth transition.

A robust governance and reporting framework oversees progress, supports decision-making, manages risks, issues, and escalations, and monitors performance. Serco is integrated into all levels of this framework to foster collaboration and shared responsibility for a successful transition.