Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many veterans have gained full-time employment via the Veteran Industry Engagement Programme since its inception.

The Veterans Industry Engagement Programme (VIEP) is a free, Government-backed advocacy service designed to collaborate with industry and trade bodies. It helps organisations adopt veteran-friendly practices and behaviours, ensuring the skills and talents veterans bring to the workforce are recognised and valued. By fostering this engagement, critical sectors can better leverage a vital national strategic asset - the Armed Forces community.

This initiative is delivered by the charity Mission Community who have developed a framework of sector specific initiatives to create sustainable employment opportunities for service leavers, veterans, reservists and military families.

VIEP forms part of a suite of wider initiatives supporting Veterans into employment including Op ASCEND, which has successfully engaged over 420 employers and supported over 4,600 veterans and family members.