Armed Forces service leavers, reservists and veterans will be guaranteed interviews for Caerphilly County Borough Council job vacancies – providing they meet essential criteria for the role.
Council cabinet members unanimously backed the proposal, which will also apply to the spouses of Armed Forces personnel, on Wednesday, July 10.
However, the council said selection procedures will still ensure the best candidate for the position is appointed.
As part of the scheme, the council will work with the Ministry of Defence’s Career Transition Partnership, which helps employers recruit veterans leaving the Armed Forces.
The council signed the Arms Forces Covenant six years ago, which encourages signatories to to ensure the Armed Forces community is treated fairly and are not put at a disadvantage as a result of their service.
Cllr Colin Gordon, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services said: “We know the majority of service leavers settle back into civilian life effectively, using the wide variety of skills developed through their time in the Armed Forces to have successful careers after leaving the services, but sadly this isn’t always the case.
“As a council, and as a proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, we are keen to reaffirm our commitment and support for the Armed Forces community, and implementing the Guaranteed Interview Scheme, where the essential criteria for council vacancies are met, is one way we’re able to do this.”
Cllr Andrew Whitcombe, the council’s Armed Forces Champion said: “The Guaranteed Interview Scheme demonstrates a real show of support for the Armed Forces community, and honours the spirit of the Armed Forces Covenant, which Caerphilly signed up to in 2013.”
There are an estimated 385,000 members of the Armed Forces community in Wales, which is more than 10% of the population.