A particular set of skills – how Fujitsu is helping veterans find their next mission

Leaving the armed forces is one of the biggest transitions a person can go through. After years working in a highly structured environment, characterised by high-stakes decisions and tightly knit teams, stepping into civilian employment can feel disorientating. But ex-service members are highly capable and desirable employees, with a distinct set of skills in their arsenal.

The challenge is that corporate job descriptions don’t tend to be written with them in mind. This mismatch means that many organisations lose out on people who bring a whole new set of qualities and experiences to the table.

At Fujitsu, we’re working to change that for good.

Recognising what veterans bring to national security roles

Defence work demands the ability to operate under pressure, an intuitive understanding of security culture, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to the mission. These skills can take years to develop in a corporate environment – but veterans have them from the moment they leave the service.

Fujitsu’s own Anna Stone served nine years in the RAF, which also included the Tactical Communications Wing (TCW) before making the move into industry with Fujitsu Defence and National Security. Her experience reflects something we hear consistently – that the transition is less about developing capability, but about finding an organisation that allows military experience to translate.

“Leaving the RAF didn’t mean leaving my identity behind. Fujitsu recognised my military experience as a strength. The mindset you develop in service – ownership, resilience, mission focus – that’s what drives success here.” 
Anna Stone, Head of the Centre of Digital Enablement, Fujitsu UKTG

That understanding is built into how we approach recruitment at Fujitsu.

A different approach to securing top talent
Fujitsu’s Defence and National Security¹ teams work a sector where clearance requirements, specialist skills and location limitations shrink the available talent pool. Traditional recruitment models make that pool even smaller. They also miss a significant group of people who have exactly the right behaviours and mindset we need.

To address this, Fujitsu partnered with Hatch Digital² to create the Accelerated Potential Programme³ – a deliberately different approach to developing talent that prioritises potential over pedigree. We recruit veterans and other non-traditional candidates as employees from day one, offering training that mirrors real Fujitsu delivery environments, so participants arrive ready to contribute.

"I would give the programme a 10 out of 10. It's the golden egg of an opportunity for someone like myself, moving out of a military career – it removes any doubt you might have about your own technical ability and gets you to a point where you're comfortable and confident moving into your new role."
Ethan, ex-Services Hatch Digital participant

The programme is built to widen access for people who have built skills in contexts that are routinely overlooked by the traditional corporate hiring process. But it also gives us a unique opportunity to bolster our teams with people who think differently, understand Defence, and thrive under pressure.

Narrowing the gap
One of the hardest elements of leaving the forces is navigating the transition alone. There's little specific guidance on how to translate the years of experience into something a civilian employer will recognise – and confidence can be a barrier.

The Accelerated Potential Programme addresses this with training, coaching and mentorship that run alongside onboarding. Participants arrive with the right skills – but also a sense of where they're heading and a network to draw on when they need it.

"Professionally, I now have a clear path as to what I need to do to achieve the goals I want. And personally, I made some fantastic friends – people I can call on whenever I get stuck."
Ethan, Hatch Digital programme participant

Better teams, better ecosystems
We want our approach to building teams to reflect how we build solutions – with a focus on the long term. Programmes like this help us bring in people with a genuine understanding of the environments our customers operate in.

Veterans are a difference-maker, with a set of experiences and instincts that take years to develop – and which we would struggle to replicate through traditional hiring alone.

Continuing our mission
Through the Accelerated Potential Programme, Fujitsu is creating a route that respects what veterans bring, gives them the tools to apply it in a new context, and connects them with a workplace that understands their value.

To find out more about how we optimise the potential of our people, or explore our approach to defence and national security.